Alas Pilipinas Girls fall to Japan in U17 Worlds classification

Alas Pilipinas Girls before facing Japan in the classification round of the FIVB U17 World Championship in Chile.–VOLLEYBALL WORLD PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas Girls yielded to Japan, 23-25, 19-25, 16-25, in the classification round of the FIVB Girls’ U17 World Championship on Saturday (Philippine time) in Santiago, Chile.

Caera Celis topscored anew with 16 points from 12 kills, three blocks, and an ace, but it wasn’t enough to upset the Asian powerhouse Japan, which prevailed in an hour and 13 minutes despite giving up 25 errors.

Japan boosted its chance for a ninth-place finish after Miko Takahashi led the way with 15 points, firing 11 spikes and four aces. Reina Nakagawa produced 10 points, highlighted by four blocks, while Ren Sugimoto added seven.

READ: Alas Girls bow to South Korea, set for U17 Worlds classification

The Japanese face Poland in the next phase of the classification round.

Philippines, which has now lost four in a row, including a round-of-16 defeat to South Korea, continues to play in the classification, facing Venezuela anew. Alas absorbed a five-set loss to Venezuela in pool play last Wednesday.

Despite suffering another loss, Alas Girls are already guaranteed the best finish of a Philippine volleyball team in the World Championship regardless of where they end up at the end of the classification round.

Xyz Rayco contributed seven points, while Jhaynna Bulandres and Madele Gale added four and three points, respectively.