Alas Girls battle fancied Chinese in historic World debut

The Alas Pilipinas girls will make their historic debut in the FIVB Volleyball U17 World Championship against defending champion and top-ranked country China on Friday (in Manila) in San Felipe, Chile.

After earning a historic berth last year, the National youth team will see culmination of its hard work and dedication amid a short preparation. The Filipino lasses, though, would need to acclimatize themselves as daytime temperature in Chile has a high of just 17 degrees Celsius, while early mornings dip to 5 C.

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Xyz Rayco banners the squad together with holdovers Nadeth Herbon, Resty Jane Olaguir, Megan Hernandez, Jhenica Sadia, Madele Gale and Frances Ramos, who clinched the World Championship berth with a fifth-place finish in last November’s Asian Volleyball Confederation U16 tilt in Amman, Jordan.

“It’s tough to adjust right away,” said Hernandez. “It’s not just the trip. It’s the weather, the team cohesion.”

The youngest national team in the country, under coach Edwin Leyva, will also parade newcomers Caera Celis, Irish Mahinay, Jhaynna Bulandres, Sharina Lleses, Princess Khaira Manzano, Taj Arkhea Teves and Andrea Mauricio.

“We’re going to do our best and execute our plays properly,” setter Mahinay said.

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Rayco and company are raring to prove that they belong on the world map, as they take on Mexico on Friday and Tunisia on Saturday before the tournament takes a break on Sunday.

Alas Pilipinas returns to action against Peru on Monday, then battles Venezuela on Wednesday in the 24-team field.

Meanwhile, the Alas Women hope to bounce back in the second leg of SEA V Cup against host and Leg 1 champion Thailand also on Friday in Chiang Mai.

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The senior national team seeks to redeem itself after its four-year bronze medal streak was ended by Indonesia in four sets in the first leg in Hanoi.

Led by first leg Best Opposite Spiker Alyssa Solomon, Bella Belen, Eya Laure and Jia De Guzman, the team went winless in three games, but they were the only team to push Thailand to a five-set game.