SANTIAGO, Chile—Alas Pilipinas gets another shot at Venezuela on Saturday with a chance to erase the sting of a five-set loss earlier this week in the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship at the Parque Estadio Nacional.

Team manager Karl Chan, who had been working the playboard in recent games, took full command with head coach Edwin Leyva sidelined by a stomach bug, and Alas Girls responded with plenty of fight early against world No. 2 Japan.

But the grind of several days of high-level play is beginning to show, and the Alas Girls couldn’t sustain the charge, bowing 23-25, 19-25, 16-25.

Japan moved on to the playoffs for ninth to 12th places, while the Philippines dropped into the battle for 13th to 16th.

Venezuela, meanwhile, got swept by Poland, 8-25, 21-25, 16-25, setting up a rematch with the Alas Girls just days after their showdown in San Felipe.

Alas Pilipinas Girls—supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Asics—can move to the playoff for 13th place or drop to the battle for 15th spot.

“Focus is on rest and recovery, we put the loss behind us and it’s on to the next match,” said Chan, who called the shots in place of Leyva.

Caera Celis continued to lead the Philippines in scoring, delivering 16 points on 12 attacks, three blocks and an ace. No other Alas player reached double figures, with Xyz Rayco managing seven points, all on attacks as Jhaynna Bulandres scored four.

Miko Takahashi had 15 points for Japan, while Reina Nakagawa scored 10, including four of the team’s nine blocks.

No. 16 Dominican Republic also moved on to the playoffs for ninth to 12th after overcoming No. 22 Czechia, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-15.

The USA continued its dominant run, reaching the semifinals without dropping a set after sweeping Italy, 25-10, 25-15, 26-24.

The 12th-ranked Americans face world No. 1 and defending champion China, which squeaked past No. 16 Croatia, 25-23, 25-21, 20-25, 19-25, 15-7.

No. 4 Chinese Taipei edged out 18th-ranked Thailand, 15-25, 26-24, 29-27, 22-25, 15-7, to set up a semifinal showdown with No. 7 Turkiye, which rose from a set down to beat Korea, 21-25, 27-25, 25-22, 25-17.