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| Bella Belen closed out a grueling semifinal between Alas Pilipinas and Chinese Taipei in dramatic fashion. AVC |
MANILA—A successful block-touch challenge called by Alas Pilipinas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito proved crucial, as it helped propel the team to its historic first AVC Women’s Nations Cup final following a gruelling 25–17, 25–21, 18–25, 15–25, 15–12 semifinal win over Chinese Taipei on Friday in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Bella Belen powered the Filipinas with a stellar all-around performance, delivering a rare triple-double: 15 points built on 11 attacks and 4 blocks, along with 16 digs and 19 excellent receptions.
However, none was more crucial than her match point, which first took a dramatic turn.
Belen attempted a cross-court attack that seemed to be too strong as the ball went outside.
However, Souza de Brito called for a block touch review, believing the ball had grazed a Chinese Taipei blocker’s fingers before going out.
The review confirmed the touch, overturning the point in favor of Alas to close out the match and clinch the dramatic semifinal victory.
The win marks a historic improvement for Alas Pilipinas, who finished with the bronze medal in last year’s AVC Challenge Cup behind Kazakhstan and Vietnam.
Now, the Filipinas are one win away from gold.
The title match will be a high-stakes showdown against host country Vietnam, while Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei will clash for the bronze medal.
The winner of the AVC Women's Nations Cup earns a coveted slot in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Challenger Cup, where they will battle other continental champions for a chance to qualify for the prestigious VNL.
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