Alas Pilipinas Girls stun Czechia to finish 15th in FIVB U17 Worlds

The Alas Pilipinas Girls turned back world No. 22 Czechia to complete a 21-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-22 win and capture a historic 15th place finish in the 2026 FIVB Girls U17 World Championship on Sunday in Santiago, Chile.

The Alas Girls have now become the highest-placed Philippine national volleyball team on the world stage, surpassing Alas Men’s 19th-place finish in their debut appearance in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship held in Manila.

Caera Celis, a 16-year-old volleyball prodigy, delivered the last two points amid a Czechia comeback to finish with a team-high 25 points built on 20 attacks, four aces, and one block while opposite hitter Jhaynna Bulandres supplied 15 markers to help the Philippines end its campaign on a winning note.

Tied at 17 in the fourth set, 14-year-old wing spiker Sharina Lleses sparked a crucial Alas Girls rally, scoring three straight points before back-to-back attack errors from Czechia stretched their lead to 23-19.

However, Czechia refused to go down without a fight, unleashing a 3-0 run capped by a quick hit from 6-foot-4 middle blocker Michaela Capova to cut the deficit to just one, 22-23.

Celis then delivered in the clutch, drilling a left-wing attack off a perfect reception from libero Taj Teves and a timely set from Resty Olaguir to put Alas Girls at match point, 24-22.

Celis also delivered the final blow from the same spot to close out the historic game for Alas Pilipinas Girls, who finished Pool B with an impressive 2-3 card but lost to South Korea in the Round of 16 to bow out of title contention.

Alas bowed to Japan and Venezuela in the classification phase before stunning Czechia in the battle for 15th place.

—JKC, GMA News