The Philippine national volleyball team, ALAS Pilipinas, put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell to powerhouse Japan in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Girls’ Under-18 Championship at the Terminal 21 Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The team's 25-20, 25-17, 26-24 loss to Japan marked their first defeat in two outings, following their triumph over Iran in Pool C play on Wednesday.
The Japanese team, meanwhile, secured their second consecutive win, earning them a spot straight to the quarterfinals.
Despite their loss, ALAS Pilipinas remains in contention for a quarterfinal berth, with the possibility of advancing if they can defeat their Southeast Asian rivals, Indonesia, on Friday.
Sharina Rhayza Lleses led the team with 15 points, including 13 attacks, a block, and an ace, while Ma. Ellaine Lorraine Gonzalvo contributed 10 hits, all off spikes.
Ysabelle Patricia Cruz added seven points, with four attacks, two blocks, and one ace, for the team that recently won a bronze medal in the Princess Cup in Korat.
The 14-year-old Lleses expressed her team's determination to bounce back from the loss, stating, "It was a good game, we fought hard. We tried to win but there's still something missing. We will fight again on Saturday, hopefully, we'll win."
Lleses, a ninth-grader at King's Montessori in Quezon City, is part of the national team that has qualified to participate in the FIVB World Girls’ U17 in Chile from August 6 to 16.
The team's roster also includes Xyz Ellen Rayco, Jhaynna Love Bulandres, Princess Khaira Manzano, Irish May Mahinay, and Frances Dianne Ramos.
If ALAS Pilipinas can advance to the semifinals, they will also secure a spot in the World U19 Championship next year at a still undetermined venue.
