Alas Pilipinas Women showed great resolve before succumbing to nine-time Japan champion Saga Hisamitsu Springs, 25-14, 25-21, 25-19, in an invitational game on Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Alyssa Solomon unloaded two points and joined forces with Eya Laure, Fifi Sharma and Vanie Gandler to give the Nationals a 16-12 second-set lead before the Japanese quickly regrouped to regain the momentum for the victory.

Opposite hitter Mika Yoshitake spearheaded Hisamitsu Springs with 16 points including 14 attacks while Ayane Kitamado poured all her nine points on kills as the visiting Japanese team swept the weekend event.

Sae Nakajima also scored for the Japanese with nine points including seven attacks.

Alas Women head coach Jorge Souza de Brito said the two-game exposure against the Japanese team is a big boost to the team in future international stints like the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand next year.

“We need to give exposure to all of them... We need more matches at this level. We need international-level play since we’re the national team,” said de Brito.