Alas Pilipinas Girls shock Iran to reach Asian U16 Quarterfinals

In a stunning display of composure and teamwork beyond their years, Alas Pilipinas Girls defied the odds and overpowered a much taller and more experienced Iranian squad, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22, to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2nd Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship early Monday morning (Philippine time) at the Princess Sumaya Hall in Amman, Jordan.

At the heart of the young Filipinas’ fearless stand was 14-year-old Xyz Rayco, who took command when it mattered most. The Saint Michael College of Caraga standout poured in 13 points built on nine attacks, three blocks, and an ace — a complete performance that marked her redemption after a quiet outing against defending champion Japan.

“I’m really happy because we didn’t expect this. Iran is such a strong team, but we still found a way to win,” Rayco said. “We just kept a positive mindset on the court. Whatever we could do, we gave it our all.”

The victory was more than just a breakthrough; it was a statement. Composed mostly of high school talents from different provinces, the team blended grit and energy to fend off Iran’s power and height advantage. 

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THEY BELONG!

FINAL: Alas Pilipinas U16 sweeps Iran, 25-21, 25-22, 25-22, for its first win in the 2nd AVC Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/VkHgYJ74iy

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) November 2, 2025

Madele Gale stepped up with nine points, sealing the win with a crucial joust, while Nadeth Herbon and Merish Beltran chipped in seven and six points, respectively.

Running the show with calm precision was setter Resty Jane Olaguir, whose playmaking gave the Filipinas balance on offense. The young playmaker said the team drew motivation from their older counterparts in the Alas U18 squad, which had fallen to Iran in the Asian Youth Games semifinals just a week earlier.

“We did our best because we want to win it for our under-18 team, and we want to secure a spot in the next round,” said Olaguir, who even caught the attention of Japan’s head coach during their match.

For head coach Edwin Leyva, the win encapsulated the team’s character — resilient, adaptive, and fearless.

“We were hoping to at least take a set against Iran, and we started off with a good score. We just told ourselves to take it one set at a time. And it worked,” said Leyva. “From the first set to the second, we kept the momentum going. We honestly didn’t expect to win in straight sets because Iran is a strong and tall team.”

The Philippines’ placement in Pool B will hinge on the result of the Japan-Iran game later in the day, but the young squad is already gearing up for a quarterfinal showdown with either Thailand or Chinese Taipei, both unbeaten in Pool D.

Now standing among Asia’s top eight, Alas Pilipinas Girls are determined to keep their dream run alive.

“The other teams are really good, but they’re definitely beatable,” Leyva added. “We just have to come up with the right game plan and strategies to outsmart their style of play.” 

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