ALAS Pilipinas Girls will have to deliver under pressure when they face Venezuela on Tuesday with a Round of 16 berth at stake in the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Girls U17 World Championship.
The Philippines slipped to fourth in Pool B after squandering a one-set lead in a 26-28, 25-22, 25-23, 25-20 defeat to world No. 6 Peru on Monday.
READ: Alas Girls rips Tunisia for back-to-back wins at FIVB U17 Worlds
Alas Girls fell to 2-2 (win-loss) with six points, while Venezuela owns the same record but sits third with seven points.
Defending champion China already clinched the top spot after sweeping Mexico, 25-12, 25-15, 25-17, to complete a perfect 4-0 group-stage run without dropping a set. Peru improved to 3-1 and also secured a knockout berth.
The top four teams advance to the Round of 16, leaving Alas Girls and Venezuela to battle for position in their final pool match.
A win guarantees the Philippines a place in the knockout stage and moves it back to second. Even a five-set loss would be enough, as the point gained keeps Alas in the top four.
But a three- or four-set defeat, coupled with a Mexico sweep of Tunisia, would send the young Nationals to the classification phase.
Mexico is fifth at 1-3 with three points and can climb to six with a three- or four-set victory over Tunisia.
Missed opportunity for Alas Girls
Alas Girls blew a 10-point cushion in the third set, allowing Peru to rattle off eight straight points at one stage and swing the momentum in its favor.
Nahir Cueva Coaguila led Peru with 19 points, while Fernanda De Los Angeles Pinto Tellez added 16 and Cielo Yamileth Quispe Venegas 10.
Fourteen-year-old Sharina Rhyza Lleses paced Alas Girls with 18 points, all on attacks. Caera Celis added 17 points on 15 attacks and two aces, while Xyz Rayco chipped in 12 on 10 attacks and two aces.
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