Exclusive: SMB assistant coach Peter Martin shares his take on their Semi-Finals series

The Alas Pilipinas Boys defeated Australia, 25-20, 30-28, 25-20, in the classification round of the 2026 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Boys' U18 Volleyball Championship on Thursday night at the Wuyuan River Gymnasium in Haikou, China.

The Philippines boosted its chances of securing a best-ever ninth-place finish in the tournament—an improvement from its 11th-place finish in the 2024 edition held in Bahrain.

The national team had to work hard throughout the match, especially in the second set, which was tied six times as Al-Raquib Dais traded kills with Australia's Eddie Kerwin.

After Alex Liang committed a costly service error, Dais pounded a strong crosscourt kill to secure the set for Alas, 30-28.

Australia was plagued by errors in the third frame as Dais continued his hot streak, allowing Alas to close out the match with a 25-20 victory.

They gave away 25 points through unforced errors, while the Philippines committed only 14.

The 16-year-old Dais finished with 25 points built on 21 attacks, three blocks, and one ace, while Terrence Marticion added 11 points.

Australia was led by King's 12-point output and Liang's 11-point performance, but it was not enough to earn a victory.

The Philippines will face either Kazakhstan or Hong Kong in the 9th-12th place classification semifinals.

In an unstoppable performance, the UST Junior Golden Tigresses claimed the top spot in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League Junior National Invitationals after sweeping fellow unbeaten St. John’s Institute in straight sets, 25-17, 25-23, to complete the elimination round with a perfect record.

The Golden Tigresses advanced to the semifinals as the tournament's No.1 seed following their latest triumph.

Anneli Manzanillo was named the MVP of the Match award after playing a key role in their victory. She finished with 8 points, highlighted by 4 attacks and 4 blocks in a dominant performance at the net. 

The unbeaten campaign marked UST's first-ever perfect elimination round since 2023, when the Junior Golden Tigresses went on to capture the bronze medal in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Angeline Poyos was named Best Outside Hitter, while Bernadett Pepito earned the Best Libero award.

UST will await its semifinal opponent, while St. John’s dropped to a 4-1 record. The squad is scheduled to face Pacific Volleyball Academy (PVA) in its final preliminary-round match.

Gilas Pilipinas Boys beats Japan, 19-14, in the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Nations League Asia 2 finals in the Stop 3 final on Wednesday at Hextar World Empire City in Malaysia.

The Philippines secured their title triumph through strong teamwork, efficient offensive scoring, and control of the game's tempo. Gilas built an 18-10 cushion behind timely baskets and maintained its composure to close out the championship match, showcasing the depth that fueled its unbeaten Stop 3 run.

Cabs Cabonilas emerged as the Player of the Game after he contributed seven points in the final. The Gilas standout also played a crucial role throughout Stop 3, which he tallied 11 points against New Zealand and 10 more against Singapore to spearhead the Philippines' title-winning campaign.

Japan tried to keep the team within striking distance throughout the final and helped the squad stay competitive despite facing a double-digit deficit.

Despite their resilience, the team struggled to match the Philippines' scoring pace in the closing stages. Unable to contain Gilas Pilipinas' balanced attack, they found it difficult to generate consistent offense.

With the victory, Gilas moved into a tie with Belarus atop the conference standings with 240 points apiece, and will return to action in Stop 4 on Friday against New Zealand and Malaysia. 

Cambodia stunned Alas Pilipinas in five sets, 25-23, 28-30, 25-20, 22-25, 15-8, to open its SEA V Cup campaign on a high note Wednesday at the Candon City Arena and deal the host nation an early setback in the tournament.

Despite the loss, newcomer Joshua Magalaman delivered an impressive performance for the Philippines, finishing with 21 points built on 15 attacks, four blocks, and two aces.

Jude Garcia also shone for Alas Pilipinas with 20 points on 18 attacks, one block, and one ace, providing a steady offensive presence throughout the match.

The Philippines struggled to maintain its momentum in crucial stretches, particularly in the deciding fifth set where Cambodia pulled away. Alas also committed untimely errors and failed to contain Cambodia’s attack, allowing the visitors to dictate the pace when it mattered most.

Cambodia, meanwhile, capitalized on its opportunities through efficient attacking and resilient defense. The Cambodians remained composed during extended rallies and key moments, showcasing the confidence that helped them secure one of the biggest wins in their recent history.

Veasna Voeum emerged as the Player of the Game after erupting for 33 points on 28 attacks, three blocks, and two aces to lead Cambodia’s breakthrough victory.

Cambodia is set to face reigning AVC Men's Cup champ Indonesia today, July 16, before taking on the home team on Friday. Alas is also on the verge of a must-win situation on the tournament against Indonesia. 

The Alas Pilipinas Boys bounced back from their opening-day defeat with a 25-22, 13-25, 25-23, 25-14 victory over Bahrain in the 2026 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Boys’ U18 Championship on Monday at the Wuyuan River Gymnasium in Haikou, China.

The win improved the Philippines to a 1-1 record in Pool B and kept its quarterfinal hopes alive. The Filipinos will face India on Tuesday at 1 p.m. in a crucial match, with the winner joining unbeaten Iran (2-0) in the next round.

Only the top two teams from each of the tournament’s four pools will advance to the quarterfinals.

Despite having just six weeks to prepare for the championship, head coach Oliver Balse was pleased with the team’s poise and response after Saturday’s straight-set loss to Iran.

“What was different today was their confidence,” Balse said. “I’m happy with how they performed. The team was more focused, and you could see how badly they wanted to win, especially in the third set.”

The Philippines regained control of the match in the pivotal third frame. After a 16-all deadlock, Alas launched a 6-4 run behind Terrence Marticion and Raphael Galapin to build a 22-20 advantage.

Bahrain threatened late as Mohamed Haram sparked a 3-0 run to trim the deficit to 24-23, but a net violation handed the Philippines the set and a 2-1 lead.

Alas then dominated the fourth set from start to finish, cruising to a 25-14 win to avoid a deciding fifth frame.

Marticion led the Philippines with 16 points on 15 attacks and one block, while Galapin and Guerra chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Mohamed Haram paced Bahrain with 18 points, while Nasralla Haram added 16.

Bahrain will also take on Iran on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in the tournament, South Korea (2-0) and Japan (1-0) lead their pool, while Saudi Arabia (0-2) and Australia (0-1) remain in pursuit. In Pool A, host China and Chinese Taipei are among the early contenders, while Pakistan strengthened its position atop Pool C with a perfect 2-0 record.