MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan and Thai membership EST Cola battle the Strengthened Convention Remaining 4 groups within the 2024 PVL Invitationals beginning September 4.
The league on Saturday introduced the 2 visitor groups for the third version of the Invitational Convention with Kurashiki eyeing its second straight PVL title and EST Cola returning to the Philippines after eight years.
Article continues after this commercial
The 2 overseas golf equipment will tackle Strengthened Remaining 4 Akari, Cignal, Creamline, and PLDT in a single round-robin with the highest two groups setting a winner-take-all remaining on Sept.12.
READ: Kurashiki Ablaze dethrone Creamline to rule PVL Invitational Convention
The Japan V.League membership swept all of its six video games final 12 months capped by a dramatic 19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 20-25, 15-13 win over Creamline with Asaka Tamaru drilling the title-clinching ace to emerge as the primary overseas staff to rule the PVL.
Article continues after this commercial
EST Cola, alternatively, is returning to the Philippines because the 2016 Philippine Superliga Invitationals, the place it completed as runner-up, shedding to Military, led by Tina Salak.
Sutadta Chuewulim, who bolstered Galeries Tower this 12 months, was a part of EST Cola when it final competed in Manila.
EST Cola shall be fielding the U-20 Thailand volleyball staff.
READ: Kurashiki Ablaze savors PVL expertise, ‘one hundred pc positive of returning’
Kurashiki, which is parading Finest Exterior Spiker Tamaru and MVP of the Remaining Kyoka Ohshima, expressed its pleasure to compete within the PVL anew and provides again to the Filipino neighborhood like what it did final 12 months.
“[Aside from the] video games, we’ll give again as a lot as potential as an invited staff by holding volleyball lessons for kids in impoverished areas and interacting with college groups,” stated the membership. “We hope to enliven the volleyball world by means of this exercise, which is able to assist develop the volleyball sport between the 2 international locations and act as a bridge between them.”
The Japanese staff has been participating within the PVL since becoming a member of final 12 months with head coach Hideo Suzuki being the marketing consultant for Farm Contemporary and Shota Sato calling the pictures for the Foxies, who made a breakthrough PVL quarterfinal look in his first match.
Tamaru additionally served as an import for ZUS Espresso and has been working as an assistant coach for the College of the East and Farm Contemporary along with her husband Sato.