Rex Neil Falogme and John Aldrin Cullat

Alas Pilipinas denied a potential reverse sweep by Chinese Taipei, breaking the country's 64-year finals drought with a 3-2 win in the AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup semifinals at Đông Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam, on June 13.

Photo Courtesy of AVC.

Leading 2-0, the national team melted down for a while before coming alive in the fifth set to close out the game with a 25-17, 25-21, 18-25, 15-25, and 15-12 victory to march in the finals, marking the team’s best finish in the tournament.

Bella Belen led the charge for Alas after finishing with 14 points while Angel Canino, the team's leading scorer in the tournament, and Alyssa Solomon added nine and 10 points, respectively.

“Being up two sets, losing two sets, then coming back in the fifth set, that's really hard to do against a team like Chinese Taipei,” said Alas Team captain, Jia De Guzman.

“I'm just really proud of everyone in this team. We just want to give our best every game,” she added.

The Filipinas saw a nail-biting fifth set after losing a two-set advantage to the feisty Chinese squad posting a 7-all thriller.

However, after head coach Jorge De Brito played one of Alas' trump cards, the five-foot-nine Eya Laure unleashed a 4-2 rally that greatly contributed to the winner-take-all set, 14-12.

But as the Chinese looked to their comeback hope, De Brito’s crucial block-touch challenge off to Belen’s attack, sealed the deal for the Nationals — the call that made them rejoice as they etched their names to Philippine volley history.

Fifi Sharma also played big for the Alas Pilipinas as she contributed 10 points on five attacks, three blocks, and two aces which carried the team in the opening stretch while Eya Laure had nine points, six from fifth set alone.

Taipei’s opposite hitter, Chem Chie powers the Chinese’ who posted a triple-double of 19 points, 15 receptions, and 13 digs but not enough to gain a comeback bid.

Alas Women’s will take their golden opportunity as they are all-set for the historic gold-medal match against the host country Vietnam on Saturday.