ALAS Pilipinas Girls’ historic run at the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Girls U17 World Championship took a hit in the Round of 16 after South Korea swept the Philippines, 25-21, 25-18, 25-14, on Wednesday.
READ: Alas Girls’ historic FIVB U17 Worlds run rolls on to Round of 16
South Korea pulled away in the closing stretch of the first two sets before taking firm control of the third to end the Filipinos’ bid for a breakthrough quarterfinal spot.
Caera Celis led the Philippines with 14 points on 12 attacks, one block, and one ace, while Xyz Rayco and Sharina Rhyza Lleses added nine and seven points, respectively.
The loss ended Alas Girls’ bid for a place in the last eight, but did little to diminish a historic campaign.
History for Philippine volleyball
Just by reaching the Round of 16, the Filipinos already secured their best-ever finish in an FIVB world championship event, regardless of how they fare in the classification phase.
It surpassed the previous best marks of the men’s team that placed 19th at last year’s FIVB World Championship and the women’s side that finished 18th in the 1974 edition.
Alas Girls earned their historic berth after beating world No. 8 Mexico and No. 20 Tunisia in pool play, then taking the crucial point in a five-set loss to world No. 12 Venezuela.
The Philippines will now face another Asian powerhouse, Japan, in the classification round on Friday.
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