Last shot at payback vs Venezuela for Alas girls

SANTIAGO, Chile, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas gets another shot at Venezuela on Saturday with a chance to erase the sting of a five-set loss earlier this week in the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship at the Parque Estadio Nacional.

Team manager Karl Chan, who had been working the playboard in recent games, took full command with head coach Edwin Leyva sidelined by a stomach bug, and Alas Girls responded with plenty of fight early against world No. 2 Japan.

But the grind of several days of high-level play is beginning to show, and the Alas Girls couldn’t sustain the charge, bowing 23-25, 19-25, 16-25.

Japan moved on to the playoffs for ninth to 12th places, while the Philippines dropped into the battle for 13th to 16th.

Venezuela, meanwhile, got swept by Poland, 8-25, 21-25, 16-25, setting up a rematch with the Alas Girls just days after their showdown in San Felipe.

Alas Pilipinas Girls – supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Asics – can move to the playoff for 13th place or drop to the battle for 15th spot.