Alas Pilipinas is not done making noise at the FIVB Volleyball Girls U17 World Championship. The young Filipina squad opens the playoffs for ninth to 16th place on Friday, aiming to cap a breakthrough campaign with a finish inside the tournament’s top half.

The Alas Girls head into the final stretch of the tournament at Parque Estadio Nacional in the host capital, a step up from the satellite venues at Liceo Mixto in San Felipe and Los Andes where they built their early success. Japan stands as the first obstacle in what promises to be a demanding final three days of competition.

Alas Pilipinas Battles for Playoff Positioning

The Philippine squad reached this stage after falling just short of the quarterfinals, dropping a straight-sets decision to Korea, 21-25, 18-25, 14-25. That result placed Alas Pilipinas among the middle eight teams of the 24-nation field, setting up the current push for positioning rather than a shot at the podium.

Support from the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, and Asics has backed the team throughout the tournament. Players such as Jhaynna Love Bulandres, Megan Hernandez, Taj Arkhea Teves, Resty Jane Olaguir, Jhenica Sadia, Jello Andrea Mauricio, and Frances Dianne Ramos are expected to carry the offensive and defensive load as the Alas Girls try to close out the tournament on a high note.

Alas Pilipinas enters the playoffs with a 2-3 record from pool play, a mark bolstered by a four-set win over world No. 8 Mexico and a sweep of No. 20 Tunisia. Those two results stood out as signature wins for a team competing against significantly higher-ranked opposition throughout the group stage.

Other squads chasing the ninth-to-16th classification alongside the Philippines include Peru, Argentina, Czechia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Poland. Meanwhile, the tournament’s quarterfinals feature marquee matchups such as the United States against Italy, China versus Croatia, Chinese Taipei facing Thailand, and Turkiye battling Korea.

Young Stars Embrace the Moment in Capital City

Mauricio, one of the youngest players on the roster at just 14 years old, has emerged as a vocal leader despite her age. The opposite hitter from San Felipe Neri Catholic School said the team remains fully committed to finishing strong, even with medal contention already out of reach.

Ramos, a 15-year-old libero and fellow Palarong Pambansa product, echoed that sentiment ahead of the playoff matches. She said the team takes pride in representing the country on this stage and values every contribution, no matter how small, toward the group’s overall performance.

Beyond the ninth-to-16th bracket, other classification matches are also underway across the tournament. Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and Tunisia are competing for 17th through 20th place, while Egypt, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Algeria round out the field in the 21st-to-24th classification.