Alas Pilipinas Women fall to Japan side in first of two meetings

Alas Pilipinas Women vs Japan’s Saga Hisamitsu.–CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–There were no explosive hits or disorienting combination plays but Saga Hisamitsu Springs simply covered nearly all the gaps to foil the offense of the Philippine national women’s volleyball team en route to a 25-19, 25-16, 25-16 victory Saturday in the Alas Pilipinas Invitationals at the Philsports Arena.

The entry of Sisi Rondina, Thea Gagate and Cherry Nunag in the third got the crowd going and provided Alas Pilipinas Women a quick boost.

Rondina managed to get through the Japanese defense with her crisp shots, while Gagate and Nunag covered the net well to give Eya Laure several chances hitting from the back row on the way to a rare lead at 8-7.

READ: Japan teams ready to test Alas Pilipinas’ mettle

But that inspiring run was short-lived as Saga Hisamitsu Springs figured things out quickly, shut down the formidable four and finished off the hosts in just over an hour.

Miyu Nakagawa showed the way for nine-time Japan V.League champions, scoring 15 points, while Megumi Fukazawa scored 14.

Alas Pilipinas women Dawn Macandili-Catindig admitted the team had quite a few lapses and needs to regroup quickly in the home-and-home set.

“Both ways, net and floor defense, we are a bit inconsistent so we need to do a better job,” said Macandili-Catindig.

Alyssa Solomon and Vanie Gandler had five points each, while Laure added four for Alas Pilipinas.

READ: Alas Pilipinas teams set for exhibition games vs visiting Japan clubs

“Now we have actually played them, we’ve learned quite a bit about them and we’re confident we can play better in the next match.”

Alas Pilipinas Women and Saga Hisamitsu Springs clash anew on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Coach Jorge Souza de Brito is also counting on a more solid performance in the rematch after a test run of sorts.

“The plan today was to field all of them and maybe tomorrow we can give the visitors a tougher time,” De Brito said.