Alyssa Solomon’s long-awaited debut in the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup showcased both her scoring prowess and the challenges that still lie ahead for a developing Alas Pilipinas squad.
Returning to the lineup after sitting out the Philippines’ opening victory over Uzbekistan, Solomon immediately made her presence felt on Sunday, delivering a game-high 23 points.
Despite her offensive explosion, the national team could not complete the job as Australia stormed back to claim a 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-25, 11-15 victory in a grueling five-set match.
Solomon provided the firepower that kept the Filipinas in control. She finished with 23 points from 22 attacks and one block, helping Alas build momentum and move within striking distance of a crucial win in front of the home crowd.
Yet while the statistics reflected a productive return, Solomon was far from satisfied with her overall performance.
“Actually, ‘di ako nakontento sa naging game ko kanina, lalo na ’yung fourth set ata. Parang ‘di na ako gano’n naka-contribute, so parang ‘yun talaga ‘yung gusto kong i-improve pa,” the former NU Lady Bulldogs standout said.
The loss unfolded as a tale of shifting momentum. After securing the opening set and eventually moving ahead two sets to one, Alas Pilipinas appeared poised to notch another victory. Australia, however, responded with a dominant fourth set before completing the comeback in the deciding frame as the Filipinas struggled to maintain their energy in the closing stages.
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Alyssa Solomon and Alyssa Valdez share their thoughts following Alas Pilipinas’ sorry five-set loss to Australia. @tribunephl @TribuneSportsPh pic.twitter.com/6uPC7yFKpW
— Mark Escarlote (@fromtheriles) June 7, 2026
Solomon was not alone in carrying the offensive load. Middle blocker Niña Ytang continued her impressive tournament form with 13 points, while team captain Alyssa Valdez contributed 11 markers, all coming from attacks.
While the defeat halted the team’s momentum, Solomon viewed the match as another important step in the national team’s growth.
“Maraming learnings na nakuha sa game na to,” Solomon said on the loss to Australia.
The 23-point performance was particularly encouraging considering Solomon joined the squad only days before the tournament. Despite the limited preparation time, she said adjusting to the national team environment was not difficult because of her familiarity with several teammates.
“Actually, ‘di naman siya naging mahirap since kilala ko naman ‘yung iba, and Creamline naman, and naki-training din naman kami sa Creamline dati. Hindi siya gano’n kahirap,” said Solomon.
As one of the newest additions to the current Alas setup, Solomon believes the team still has significant room for improvement as chemistry continues to develop.
“Magi-improve pa rin naman kami, since ilang weeks pa lang kami magkasama. Gagawin din namin to as (a way for) team (bonding),” the former Osaka import said.
Rather than dwelling on the disappointment of letting a five-set match slip away, Solomon and the rest of Alas Pilipinas are turning their attention to the lessons gained from the defeat.
The schedule offers little time for reflection, with the Philippines returning to action against Kyrgyzstan on Monday.
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