The Alas Pilipinas girls may have missed the quarterfinals, but their first dance on the world stage is far from over.
The Filipinas bowed to still-unbeaten South Korea in straight sets, 25-21, 25-18, 25-14, in the Round of 16 of the FIVB U17 World Championship in Chile. The defeat ended their bid for a place among the tournament’s final eight, but opened another opportunity to leave a bigger mark in their debut.
Alas will next face Japan in the playoffs for ninth to 16th places in the 24-team tournament. Japan also fell in straight sets to Turkey, which advances to face South Korea in the quarterfinals.
Against the Koreans, Alas briefly looked ready to make the match considerably more interesting.
The Filipinas matched South Korea point for point early in the opening set, with their net defense frustrating several Korean attacks. Caera Celis and Xyz Rayco supplied the offensive spark, helping Alas grab a 10-9 lead and briefly giving the Philippine side something precious in international volleyball, momentum.
Then South Korea adjusted.
The Koreans began finding gaps in the Philippine defense, while their own blocking and net coverage made life increasingly difficult for Alas attackers. South Korea pulled away to take the opening set, 25-21, before tightening its grip on the match.
Celis finished with 14 points, including 12 attacks, an ace, and a block. Rayco added nine, with seven attacks and two aces.
The final two sets were less forgiving, as South Korea asserted its class, winning 25-18, 25-14.
For coach Edwin Leyva’s youthful 14-player squad, however, this was never merely about one match. It was a first taste of the speed, discipline, and tactical demands of elite youth volleyball.
Rayco, standing 5-foot-10, and 5-foot-9 Jhaynna Bulandres lead a contingent that includes five players from UAAP champion NU Nazareth School. Celis, a 5-foot-8 opposite hitter from Bacolod City’s St. John’s Institute, remains the team’s chief offensive weapon.
Japan awaits on Saturday. The quarterfinals may be gone, but history still has room for another chapter for Philippine volleyball.
