Alas Pilipinas Girls could not have asked for a better start to its campaign in the 2026 AVC Girls’ U18 Volleyball Championship.
The young Filipinas opened the continental tournament with a statement victory, defeating Iran in four sets, 25-19, 19-25, 25-23, 25-18, on Wednesday, July 1, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, to immediately put themselves in contention for a quarterfinal berth.
The victory also sets the stage for an even bigger challenge as the Philippines now prepares to face perennial Asian contender Japan, last year’s silver medalist, in a crucial Pool C showdown on Thursday.
With only the top two teams in the group advancing to the knockout stage, the win over Iran could prove vital in the race for qualification.
Alas Pilipinas leaned on the firepower of Xyz Rayco, who once again emerged as the team’s offensive catalyst with 19 points. After helping steer the national squad to a historic qualification for the 2026 FIVB Girls’ U17 World Championship last year, Rayco continued to showcase why she remains one of the country’s brightest young volleyball prospects.
Ellaine Gonzalvo also carried over her strong form from the recent 2026 Southeast Asian Girls’ U18 Volleyball Championship, where she was recognized as Best Outside Spiker. The Adamson standout finished with 15 points to provide steady support throughout the match.
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Alas Pilipinas as they begin their campaign in the AVC Girls’ U18 Volleyball Championship.#AVCU18 #AlasPilipinas #Volleyball pic.twitter.com/rgVbFKGsRj
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Jhaynna Love Bulandres and Adeleine Agustin added nine points each as the Filipinas displayed balanced scoring in overcoming a resilient Iranian side.
The match was anything but straightforward.
After comfortably taking the opening set, Alas Pilipinas lost momentum in the second as Iran answered emphatically to level the contest.
The turning point came in the tightly contested third frame, where the Filipinas held their composure during the closing exchanges to seize a crucial 2-1 advantage.
With confidence restored, the Philippine squad dictated the pace in the fourth set, pulling away late to secure its first victory of the tournament.
The result gives Alas Pilipinas an ideal foundation before arguably its toughest assignment in the group stage.
Japan enters the matchup as one of Asia’s traditional volleyball powers after finishing runner-up in last year’s tournament, making Thursday’s clash a major measuring stick for Karl Dimaculangan’s young squad.
A victory would significantly boost the Filipinas’ chances of reaching the quarterfinals, while another competitive performance could further prove that the country’s next generation is ready to challenge the region’s elite.
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