CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – Alas Pilipinas is set for a collision course with Iran in the battle for seventh place after Australia clinched the third seed in Pool A of the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup on Friday.

The Philippines, which bowed out of semifinal contention after a straight-set loss to Chinese Taipei and finished with a 2-3 record, still had a chance to reach the fifth-place match had the Australians dropped their game against Uzbekistan.

However, world No. 80 Australia overcame a tough early challenge from world No. 101 Uzbekistan before taking full control en route to a 25-20, 30-28, 25-16, 25-8 victory to finish pool play with a 3-2 record in the tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The result sets up a tense final assignment for Pool A fourth seed Alas Pilipinas, as world No. 50 Philippines brace for a showdown with world No. 44 Iran—also fourth in Pool B—in the battle for seventh place at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, closing out their 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup campaign.

“Ang magiging main goal, siyempre best na magagawa namin para maipanalo namin yung game. Kasi gusto namin mag-end tong tournament na high note kami,” said Alas interim head coach Shaq delos Santos.

The Philippines and Iran have split their recent AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup meetings.

Alas Pilipinas swept Iran, 25-16, 25-13, 25-15, in pool play two years ago en route to a historic bronze-medal finish at home.

However, the Iranians claimed revenge in their most recent encounter, edging the Philippines in a tense five-set battle, 16-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-23, 15-13, in pool play, with Alas Pilipinas eventually going on to secure a landmark silver medal.

The Philippines will lean heavily on its core of Alyssa Valdez, Alyssa Solomon, Nina Ytang, and Thea Gagate as they look to steady the ship. The quartet is expected to play pivotal roles as the country attempts to salvage its best possible finish in the tournament co-presented by the FIVB, AVC, Volleyball World, and Candon City, Ilocos Sur, led by Mayor Eric Singson, after standing on the podium for the past two years.

Meanwhile, Australia will battle Indonesia for fifth place at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Caitlin O’Dea spearheaded the Volleyroos with 21 points—her best performance in the tournament—on 17 attacks, two aces, and two blocks, while Kayla Cantrill added 15 points, also her highest output of the competition.

Uzbekistan, on the other hand, dropped to the ninth-place match, where they will face Hong Kong—who suffered a 14-25, 13-25, 18-25 defeat to Iran earlier in the day—at 12:30 p.m.

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CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – For the longest time, the sight of Alyssa Valdez and Ara Galang wearing the same jersey existed only in the imagination of the Philippine volleyball community.

But that long-awaited dream finally turned into reality when the fierce rivals were named to the new-look Alas Pilipinas roster for the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, at the Candon City Arena.

The moment arrived at an unexpected but pivotal time, with Valdez, 32, and Galang, 31, both already past their primes and brought into a reshaped national pool after several core players begged off amid issues surrounding the suspended Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

“Syempre, ayun nga, kami nga happy. After a long time, tsaka hindi naman namin expected. Siguro nga destined ngayon. Thankful ako na nakasama ko siya sa team, sa national team pa,” said Galang, who previously missed opportunities to play for the national team due to injuries.

Fans were given a fleeting glimpse of those long-imagined what-ifs when Valdez and Galang spearheaded a spirited third-set fightback, pushing a more experienced South Korean side to the brink before ultimately falling short, 16-25, 18-25, 22-25.

“Sayang pero maganda naman yung nakipagsabayan kami nakadikit kami. Effort lang yung sa last point, yun nga sayang,” Galang added.

For much of the past decade, that long-awaited partnership never had the chance to take shape as Galang’s career was repeatedly derailed by a knee injury that kept her from fully sharing the international stage with Valdez.

It began in 2015, when she suffered an ACL tear in her left knee, along with damage to her MCL and medial meniscus, sidelining her from the Asian U-23 Women’s Volleyball Championship and the Southeast Asian Games.

The setbacks carried into 2017, with recurring problems in the same knee forcing her out of the Asian Women’s Seniors Volleyball Championship and another SEA Games campaign.

Two years later, in 2018, she once again opted not to push through with the Asian Games, extending a stretch of missed opportunities that kept her from realizing her national team dream—and from ever fully forming the envisioned pairing with Valdez.

“Super grateful lang talaga ako,” said the former La Salle star, who built a storied rivalry with Valdez during college, facing her four times in the UAAP Finals—five if not for the same injury that kept Galang out late in Season 77.

“Unang-una dahil hindi ko in-expect. Masasabi natin too late na pero ‘yun nga super grateful lang ako sa opportunity na ito na dumating pa rin sa akin kahit papaano,” she added, cherishing the chance to finally don the national team colors for the first time in her career.

For Valdez, the timing feels just right, with both veterans now finding themselves in the same side of the net after years of rivalry in this tournament co-presented by FIVB, AVC, Volleyball World, and Candon City headed by Mayor Eric Singson.

“Alam mo I think late ‘man ‘to sa career namin, pero I think it’s the right time talaga,” said the three-time PVL MVP.

“It’s the right time to actually inspire each other more towards the latter part of our careers. So, napakasaya rin makasama talaga si Ara Galang. Iba ‘yung fire nito, talagang makikita mo na lalaban talaga.”

Yet for all its unexpected timing, the sight of Valdez and Galang together on the same side of the court felt strangely fitting—almost destined—for two careers long defined by rivalry, finally converging after more than a decade spent on opposite sides of the net and across different leagues.

In doing so, they gave the Philippine volleyball community a rare moment of unity amid the sport’s ongoing internal disputes and tensions.

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CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – Niña Ytang has continued to turn heads with her impressive performances for Alas Pilipinas in the 2026 AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Among those who took notice was South Korea captain Kang Sohwi, who led her team to a hard-fought straight-sets victory, 25-16, 25-18, 25-22, over Ytang and the Philippines on Tuesday at the Candon City Arena here.

The 24-year-old middle blocker played a key role in Alas Pilipinas’ strong showing in the third set, where her energy and offensive presence helped put the hosts in position to steal the frame before Kang and the Koreans pulled away late.

“Number 9, the middle blocker, she’s really fast. Her fighting spirit… it was very impressive,” said the former KOVO Cup MVP through an interpreter.

Ytang finished with eight points built on seven attacks and one block in the loss, as South Korea improved its standing while the Philippines slipped to 2-2 and now faces the possibility of missing the semifinals.

The four-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker, who withdrew from the Premier Volleyball League Draft to focus on national team duties, has been one of Alas Pilipinas’ most consistent performers in the tournament co-presented by FIVB, AVC, Volleyball World, and Candon City headed by Mayor Eric Singson, averaging 9.75 points per game.

Kang also acknowledged the steady progress of the Philippine squad, noting how much the team has improved compared to previous years and how it now competes at a higher level against Asia’s top teams.

“Compared to before, I can feel the Philippines, as a team, has improved a lot. Since most of the Asian teams are at a pretty equal level right now,” said Kang.

The Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass star delivered a game-high 19 points and ignited a decisive 6-0 run with four quick points, turning an 18-20 deficit into a commanding 24-20 advantage and helping South Korea stop the Philippines’ late rally.

“I think we fought really hard until the end. And it kind of worked out. Since we are in the post game, the opponent team, I thought they would not cheer for us but the fans had a really good manner. We had a great game today,” said Kang, who also praised the crowd inside the Candon City Arena.

For her part, Ytang welcomed the recognition from one of Asia’s top players, saying it serves as motivation to continue giving her all for the national team.

“I must be doing something right kaya siguro ganun. Pero for me naman I’m just doing my best, doing everything I can para sa bayan. Ino-offer ko lahat ng kaya kong gawin para sa lahat ng sumusuporta,” said the former University of the Philippines standout in an interview with One Sports.

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