The final score against Iran was only part of the story.
When Alas Pilipinas walked off the floor of the Candon City Arena on Sunday, it marked the end of a tournament that demanded far more than wins and losses from the national team.
A campaign that began with hopes of another podium finish instead concluded with an eighth-place result after Iran handed the Filipinas a 25-21, 25-12, 25-21 defeat in the AVC Women’s Cup classification match.
It was the country’s lowest finish in the tournament in recent years, a stark contrast from the bronze-medal breakthrough in 2024 and the silver-medal run in 2025.
But unlike those squads, this version of Alas Pilipinas entered the competition carrying a completely different reality.
Several key members of the previous core were unavailable, forcing the national team to lean heavily on veterans Alyssa Valdez, Ces Molina, Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Ara Galang while integrating younger players into major international roles.
The challenge became even greater when the team had to navigate uncertainty surrounding the suspension of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) by the FIVB, creating distractions away from the court during the tournament.
Against Iran, those growing pains surfaced once more.
The Filipinas struggled to find offensive rhythm as Iran dictated the tempo behind the dominant play of Elaheh Poorsaleh Shahdehsari, who erupted for 18 points and spearheaded the victory in just 70 minutes.
Iran seized control of the match after a competitive opening set and never allowed Alas to gain momentum, particularly in a lopsided second frame.
The Filipinas showed fight late in the third set.
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ALAS SETTLES FOR EIGHTH PLACE
Alas Pilipinas Women was dealt a 21-25, 12-25, 21-25 sweep at the hands of Iran in the battle for seventh place at the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup.
This is the Philippines’ worst finish in the tournament since debuting in 2023 when it finished… pic.twitter.com/rV1GkICrys
— John Mark Garcia (@johnmarkdg_) June 14, 2026
Trailing at match point, Gonzaga and Kyle Negrito helped stave off elimination briefly by trimming the deficit to three points at 24-21. But Gonzaga’s ensuing service error sealed the result and officially closed the chapter on Alas Pilipinas’ AVC campaign.
Fatemeh Khalili Chermahini added nine points for Iran, while Zahra Salehi and Yasna Ahankoub Roo chipped in eight each. Ayda Valinezhad contributed seven markers in the balanced Iranian attack.
For the Philippines, Gonzaga led the scoring with six points. Niña Ytang finished with five, while team captain Valdez and Tots Carlos added four and three points, respectively.
Despite the disappointing finish, Valdez chose to focus on what the tournament may ultimately mean for the program’s future.
“The results may not have gone our way, but our biggest hope is that the younger players continue to answer the call and represent the Philippines in the future,” said an emotional Valdez in Filipino.
That message may ultimately define Alas Pilipinas’ 2026 AVC Women’s Cup campaign.
The Filipinas battled through a difficult Pool A schedule, finishing with a 2-3 record that included victories over Kyrgyzstan and Australia, while suffering defeats to eventual finalists South Korea and Chinese Taipei.
There were flashes of promise from emerging players, valuable experience gained against elite Asian competition, and lessons learned from competing under difficult circumstances.
The final standing may show eighth place.
But for a team in transition, the tournament may be remembered more as the beginning of a new chapter than the end of a disappointing one.
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