MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas girls secured their first victory in the FIVB Volleyball Girls U17 World Championship after defeating Mexico, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 25-23, in Pool B on Saturday in San Felipe, Chile.
The Philippines improved to 1-1 in the tournament after bouncing back from a straight-set loss to defending champion and world No. 1 China.
The Filipinas faced a late challenge from Mexico, which took a 22-20 lead in the fourth set after Caera Celis missed a spike.
Celis quickly made up for the error before Jhaynna Bulandres delivered back-to-back aces. Celis then scored off the block to put the Philippines at match point, 24-22.
Gabriela Ayala saved one match point for Mexico, but Celis finished the match with an attack off Ayala’s hands to give the Philippines its breakthrough victory.
The 16-year-old Celis, a St. John’s Institute standout from Bacolod, led the Philippines with 24 points from 22 kills, one block and one ace.
Xyz Rayco added 15 points on 12 kills, two aces and one block. Madele Gale contributed 10 points, including five blocks, while Bulandres also scored 10 points with three aces. Sharina Rhyza Lleses finished with seven.
The victory matched the achievement of the Alas Pilipinas men’s team, which won a game at last year’s FIVB Men’s World Championship in Manila.
Rayco helped the Philippines qualify for the U17 World Championship after leading the team to fifth place at the 2025 AVC U16 Volleyball Championship in Amman, Jordan.
Alas Pilipinas girls will seek their second straight win against Tunisia on Sunday at 5 a.m. Manila time.
Mexico dropped to 1-1 after entering the match fresh from a five-set victory over Venezuela. Ayala led Mexico with 15 points, followed by Isabella Gallardo with 14 and Evelyn Diaz with 13.
