Alas Girls advance to FIVB U17 World Championship Round of 16 despite loss to Venezuela

Alas Pilipinas Girls secured a historic spot in the Round of 16 of the FIVB Volleyball Girls U17 World Championship despite falling to Venezuela in a thriller on early Wednesday in Chile.

The young Filipinas came back from two sets down but ran out of gas in the final frame to absorb a 19-25, 16-25, 25-22, 25-19, 11-15 loss and finish with a 2-3 win-loss card in Group B.

Despite the loss, though, the Alas Girls will still advance to the Round of 16 after finishing fourth in their group.

China, which swept Group B with a 5-0 card, will also advance alongside Venezuela and Peru.

Alas Pilipinas, who jumped to No. 25 in the FIVB U17 rankings, will now test its mettle against South Korea on Thursday in bid to advance to the quarterfinals.

16-year-old outside hitter Caera Celis once again led the offense with 24 points anchored on 22 attacks and two aces while Xyz Rayco posted 19 markers built on 17 attacks, one block, and one ace as they fell just short of the upset against world No. 12 Venezuela.

After stunning Venezuela in the third and fourth sets, Alas Pilipinas Girls carried their momentum into the decider, which they opened with a 4-2 lead off a Celis kill from the left wing.

But Venezuela eventually found its footing with left-handed hitter Carima Fabianny burying a down-the-line hammer to give her side an 8-6 cushion at the changeover before a back-row kill from Yalesca Colina stretched the lead to 10-6.

The Philippines, though, mounted a furious 5-0 rally capped by a kill from Cayco and an attack error from Venezuela as Alas regained a slim 11-10 lead.

But Venezuela responded with a 4-0 closing run led by Fabianny and Colina, who denied Sharina Lleses on the opposite side to seal the victory.

Colina top-scored for Venezuela with 27 points built on 23 attacks, two blocks as they finished the group stage with a 3-2 card.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News