AMMAN, Jordan — 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 2nd AVC Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship on Saturday at Princess Sumaya Hall.

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 in the Jordanian capital.

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.

“We’ll apply everything we learned in Japan in our next game because we know it’s still going to be a tough fight. We’ll keep giving our all and keep fighting until the end,” said team captain Rayco, a 14-year-old opposite spiker from Saint Michael College of Caraga.

Japan coach Daichi Saegusa was impressed by the Filipino players, especially setter Resty Jane Olaguir, while Sugimoto praised Rayco.

“It was a difficult game because the Philippines was so good,” Saegusa said. 

“We couldn't play well, but this match is going to be good for us because we have more games. It was a good opportunity.”

Sugimoto and Takahashi delivered 16 points each for the Japanese, while Hayasaka had 13 points, as they eye a Pool B sweep against Iran on Monday.