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 had bowed out of semifinal contention after a straight-set loss to Chinese Taipei, finishing with a 2-3 record. Still, the team 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. The world No. 50 Philippines now braces for a showdown with world No. 44 Iran — also fourth in Pool B — in the battle for seventh place at 9:30 AM on Sunday, 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, Niña 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 PM 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. Meanwhile, 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 PM.
