The Alas Pilipinas girls team impressed by putting up a gallant stand against defending champion Japan in a 17-25, 25-21, 16-25, 20-25 loss in the Second Asian Volleyball Confederation Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship on Saturday at Princess Sumaya Hall in Amman, Jordan.
Xyz Rayco and Nadeth Herbon introduced themselves on the Asian stage by leading Alas girls’ impressive debut in the U16 championship in front of the overseas Filipino workers.
Rayco and Herbon led the Philippines’ strong showing in the second set with nine points each to tie the game to one set apiece, but they were dominated by the Japanese in the third frame.
Alas held a 12-9 lead in the fourth after Madele Gale’s ace, only for Ren Sugimoto, Miko Takahashi and Rina Hayasaka to rescue Japan, with Hayasaka drilling two consecutive kills to win their first assignment in Pool B.