A 14-year-old from Quezon City gave Japan everything it could handle, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Philippines from bowing out in three tight sets, 20-25, 17-25, 24-26, in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Girls’ U18 Championship on Thursday at the Terminal 21 Hall.

Sharina Rhayza Lleses, a Grade 9 student from King’s Montessori, put together a standout performance for Alas Pilipinas, finishing with a team-high 15 points built on 13 attacks, one block, and an ace. Despite her heroics, the Philippines couldn’t close the gap against a Japan squad that never trailed by more than a whisker in any of the three sets.

The loss puts the Philippines in a must-win situation in Pool C, where the team now carries a 1-1 record heading into a critical showdown against Indonesia (0-1) on Friday at 4 p.m. Indonesia was set to face Iran (0-1) later Thursday.

Young Star Continues to Rise on the World Stage

Lleses’ big night is only the latest sign that the teenager is quickly becoming one of the brightest prospects in Philippine volleyball. The 5-foot-9 outside hitter is part of the national squad that has already qualified for the FIVB World Girls’ U17 Championship in Chile, set for August 6 to 16, alongside teammates Xyz Ellen Rayco, Jhaynna Love Bulandres, Princess Khaira Manzano, Irish May Mahinay, and Frances Dianne Ramos.

Even in defeat, Lleses stayed upbeat and focused on the bigger picture. “It was a good game, we fought hard. We tried to win but there’s still something missing. We will fight again tomorrow, hopefully, we’ll win,” she said.

She wasn’t alone in stepping up for Alas Pilipinas. Ma. Ellanie Lorraine Gonzalvo backed her up with 10 points, all from attacks, while Ysabelle Patricia Cruz contributed seven points on four attacks, two blocks, and an ace. The trio’s efforts echo the form that helped the team capture the bronze medal at the Princess Cup, giving Philippine volleyball fans reason for optimism heading into Friday’s do-or-die clash.

Head coach Ray Karl Dimaculangan, who leads the team alongside assistants Kenan Jairus Quitco and Marco Ely Maclang, acknowledged the missed chances that ultimately cost his squad the match. “We had many opportunities that we did not maximize. We know that Japan is tough, we gave it our best,” he said.

Team manager Carmela Gamboa echoed that sentiment, pointing to the gap in experience against elite competition. “Japan is always hard to beat and to be able to play against them is an opportunity. Our players are not used to against a fast-paced team such as Japan,” Gamboa said. “They rallied towards the end, it was a close game, they just fell short. Hopefully, they learn from this game and be ready against Indonesia.”

On the other side of the net, Japan improved to 2-0 and advanced to the next round behind a well-rounded attack led by Rio Nishimura, who tallied 16 points on 14 attacks and two blocks, and Kadiatou Kaba, who added 12 points on 11 attacks and an ace.

Must-Win Friday Looms as Pool Play Heats Up Across Thailand

Alas Pilipinas will need to regroup quickly, with Friday’s match against Indonesia now shaping up as a de facto elimination game in Pool C. A win would keep the Philippines’ hopes alive for a semifinal berth — and, by extension, a spot in next year’s FIVB U19 World Championship, with the venue still to be announced.

The Philippines’ campaign is part of a broader tournament picture that saw several contenders assert themselves Wednesday and Thursday. Thailand cruised past Mongolia, 25-15, 25-13, 25-19, at the Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University gym to share the Pool A lead with Australia, which handled Uzbekistan, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19.

Elsewhere, Kazakhstan rolled over Hong Kong, 25-3, 25-23, 25-15, and China blanked Kyrgyzstan, 25-12, 25-9, 25-7, to sit atop Pool B. In Pool D, Korea remained unbeaten with a win over India, 25-14, 25-18, 25-16, while Vietnam topped Chinese Taipei, 25-11, 25-20, 25-15, to share the pool lead.

With semifinal berths — and World U19 qualification — on the line, Friday’s matches across all pools are expected to sharply narrow the championship field, starting with the Philippines’ must-win test against Indonesia.