MANILA — Sixteen-year-old team captain Xyz Rayco turned in a phenomenal 30-point performance to lead Alas Pilipinas to a historic qualification for the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship following a gritty 25-23, 25-20, 19-25, 25-22 win over Thailand in the 2nd AVC Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship on Saturday night in Amman, Jordan.
The victory — which sealed the Filipinas’ fifth-place finish — marked the country’s first-ever entry into the U17 global stage, a milestone made even sweeter by the fact that the team had only two weeks of preparation before the tournament.
“That’s really the icing on the cake,” said Alas U16 head coach Edwin Leyva. “We only had two weeks to prepare, and at first, we were just a ragtag team. But we took it one set at a time, and now our dream came true.”
Rayco, who was playing her first international tournament, was unstoppable at the net with 25 kills, four blocks, and one ace, anchoring the Philippines’ late surge after Thailand tied the fourth set at 19-all. She delivered the team’s final three points to secure the match and the precious World Championship ticket.
“I’m inspired because I’m still young, but I’ve already come this far and I know there’s still a higher level waiting for me,” said the young skipper, whose leadership and composure proved decisive in the clutch.
The win also served as redemption for the Filipinas, who had earlier squandered a 2-1 lead and lost to Thailand in their quarterfinal match. “In the third set, we started to feel down, but in the fourth, we didn’t let it happen again because we didn’t want a repeat of our last game,” Rayco said.
Nadeth Herbon added 16 points, while Negrense middle blocker Madele Gale chipped in 11, including five blocks.
The Philippines clinched the last Asian slot to the 2026 FIVB World Championship in Chile, joining Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei, while China automatically qualified as defending world champion.
Despite their limited buildup, Alas Pilipinas impressed in their international debut — taking a set from powerhouse Japan, beating Iran to enter the final eight, and sweeping Hong Kong to reach the fifth-place match.
Thailand, which settled for sixth place, was led by Natacha Thongkham with 18 points and Chamikon Cankawe with 13./PN
