Alas Pilipinas girls bow to Korea, set for U17 Worlds classification

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas Girls bowed out to unbeaten Asian champion South Korea, 21-25, 18-25, 14-25, in the round of 16 of the FIVB Girls’ U17 World Championship on Thursday morning (Philippine time) in Los Andes, Chile.

The Koreans, who swept the preliminary round with a 5-0 finish in Pool D and ruled last year’s AVC U16 Championship in Amman, Jordan, proved too strong for the young Filipinos. Son Seoyeon dazzled with 19 points off 13 kills, three blocks, and three aces as they closed out the game in just 69 minutes.

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Eo Minseo also stepped up with 15 points, and Jang Suin added 10, as South Korea advanced to the quarterfinal against Turkey.

Caera Celis continued to shine for Alas, leading their gallant stand in the opening set and finishing with a team-high 14 points built on 12 kills, one ace, and a block. Xyz Rayco chipped in nine points, while Sharina Lleses added seven.

The Philippines, which booked a historic round of 16 appearance with a 2-3 record in Pool B, will be relegated to the classification round, facing Japan on Friday in Santiago.

Celis gave Alas an 11-10 lead in Set 1 before Son and Lee Seoin scored four straight points for the Koreans for a 14-11 lead and stretched it to 20-16. Celis and Lleses made it a one-point game with three consecutive kills for the Philippines, but Eo nailed the timely hits for a 23-19 lead. An attack error by Jhaynna Bulandres and Geum Byeol’s ace sealed the first-set win for Korea.

Alas held a 6-5 lead off Lleses’ off-the-block kill to start the second set, but Korea caught fire and mounted a 21-12 lead and never looked back, also dominating the third with an 11-point win.