FILE–Kurashiki Ablaze after successful the 2023 PVL Invitational Convention title. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan and Thai membership EST Cola battle the Strengthened Convention Closing 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.
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The 2 international golf equipment will tackle Strengthened Closing 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 yr 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 international workforce to rule the PVL.
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EST Cola, alternatively, is returning to the Philippines for the reason that 2016 Philippine Superliga Invitationals, the place it completed as runner-up, dropping to Military, led by Tina Salak.
Sutadta Chuewulim, who bolstered Galeries Tower this yr, was a part of EST Cola when it final competed in Manila.
EST Cola will probably be fielding the U-20 Thailand volleyball workforce.
READ: Kurashiki Ablaze savors PVL expertise, ‘100% certain of returning’
Kurashiki, which is parading Finest Exterior Spiker Tamaru and MVP of the Closing Kyoka Ohshima, expressed its pleasure to compete within the PVL anew and provides again to the Filipino neighborhood like what it did final yr.
“[Aside from the] video games, we are going to give again as a lot as attainable as an invited workforce by holding volleyball lessons for youngsters in impoverished areas and interacting with college groups,” mentioned the membership. “We hope to enliven the volleyball world by way of this exercise, which can assist develop the volleyball sport between the 2 nations and act as a bridge between them.”
The Japanese workforce has been collaborating within the PVL since becoming a member of final yr with head coach Hideo Suzuki being the guide for Farm Recent and Shota Sato calling the photographs for the Foxies, who made a breakthrough PVL quarterfinal look in his first match.
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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 Recent along with her husband Sato.
