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Tag: 2025 FIVB U17 Volleyball World Championship

  • Alas Pilipinas Girls make history despite Round of 16 exit after loss to unbeaten South Korea

    Alas Pilipinas Girls make history despite Round of 16 exit after loss to unbeaten South Korea

    The result may have ended Alas Pilipinas Girls’ championship dream, but it could not erase what the young Filipinas had already accomplished in Chile.

    The Philippines bowed to South Korea, 25-21, 25-18, 25-14, in the Round of 16 of the FIVB Volleyball Girls U17 World Championship on Thursday at Liceo Mixto Los Andes.

    For a team that arrived in Chile simply hoping to make an impression, the defeat now feels like only a footnote.

    By reaching the Round of 16, Alas has guaranteed itself a finish between ninth and 16th place—the best-ever global placement by a Philippine national volleyball team.

     

    That achievement alone represents a significant leap for a program still building its foundation.

     

    Before this group, the benchmark belonged to the Philippine women’s team that finished 18th at the 1974 World Championship in Mexico. The men’s national team led by Bryan Bagunas finished 19th at last year’s FIVB Men’s World Championship, which was hosted by the Philippines.

     

    The young Filipinas have now moved beyond both marks.

     

    And they did it on a stage where they were rarely expected to be among the teams still standing when the knockout rounds arrived.

     

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    The loss to South Korea was certainly a difficult way to see their title hopes end. The Koreans controlled the match from the opening set and never allowed Alas to build the kind of momentum that carried the Philippines through the preliminary round.

     

    But the significance of this campaign goes well beyond Thursday’s scoreline.

     

    Alas has already shown that Philippine youth volleyball can compete on the world stage, withstand the pressure of international competition and reach a knockout round that no previous Philippine team had managed to enter.

     

    There is still more basketball to be played—just not for the championship.

     

    The Philippines will face Japan in the losers’ quarterfinals on Friday at the National Stadium Park in Santiago, with a ninth-place finish still within reach.

     

    For coach Edwin Leyva and his players, three more victories would extend an already historic campaign.

     

    But even if the Filipinas fall short of that mark, their place in Philippine volleyball history is already secure.

     

    They came to Chile carrying a dream.

     

    They will leave having given the next generation something far more tangible: a new standard to chase.

     

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  • Alas Pilipinas Girls face crucial Venezuela test after Peru setback 

    Alas Pilipinas Girls face crucial Venezuela test after Peru setback 

    Alas Pilipinas Girls came within touching distance of taking control against Peru, only to watch a promising lead slip away.

     

    The young Filipinas fell to Peru, 28-26, 22-25, 23-25, 20-25, in the FIVB Girls’ U17 World Championship early Tuesday in Chile, turning what looked like a potential statement victory into a crucial setback in their bid to reach the Round of 16.

     

    The defeat dropped the Philippines to 2-2 in Pool B, while Peru improved to 3-1 and strengthened its position in second place behind unbeaten China, which remained perfect at 4-0. Venezuela also sits at 2-2, keeping the race for the remaining knockout spots wide open.

     

    For Alas, the equation is now straightforward.

     

    The Philippines needs to beat Venezuela on Wednesday at 2 a.m. (Manila time) to keep its Round of 16 hopes alive.

     

    The Filipinas showed early signs that they could pull off another upset after winning the opening set in dramatic fashion.

     

    Down 26-25, middle blocker Cristina Gale answered with a soft touch that caught Peru off guard and forced another deadlock. Caera Celis then put the Philippines at set point before Gale came through again, denying Fernanda Pinto at the net to complete the 28-26 escape.

     

    Peru responded in the second set, however, as the two sides remained within striking distance of each other before an attack error from Xyz Rayco allowed the South Americans to level the match.

    The Philippines appeared to regain control in the third.

     

    Alas built an eight-point advantage at 21-13, with Zoe Koechlin producing a timely block on Pinto to help put the Filipinas in position to reclaim the lead.

     

    Instead, Peru produced the decisive run of the match.

     

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    The South Americans stormed back with a 10-1 surge, flipping the deficit into a 23-22 advantage. Alas managed to stop the run momentarily, but Peru grabbed the next two points to complete the comeback and move ahead 2-1.

     

    The fourth set offered no similar opening for the Philippines.

     

    Peru controlled the frame from the outset and eventually closed out the match when Celis’ final attack from the left wing sailed wide.

     

    Sharina Lleses led Alas with 18 points, while Celis added 17 and Rayco finished with 12.

     

    The result was a frustrating one for a Philippine side that had entered the match with plenty of momentum after consecutive victories over higher-ranked Mexico and Tunisia.

     

    But the tournament is far from over.

     

    With China already sitting comfortably at the top and Peru holding second place, the Philippines now faces a direct battle with Venezuela for a place in the next round.

     

    Both teams own 2-2 records.

     

    One match will decide which side keeps its world championship journey alive.

     

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