Two Japanese squads confirmed as guest entries for PVL Invitationals

Two champion volleyball clubs from Japan are making their way back to the Philippines for the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference, promising another round of world-class action on local courts.

Former PVL champion Kurashiki Ablaze and 2017 Philippine Superliga (PSL) Invitational Cup co-champion Kobe Shinwa Women’s University will serve as the tournament’s two international guest squads, joining a strong field of six invited teams.

For Kurashiki Ablaze, this will mark their third PVL appearance. They made history in 2023 by defeating the Creamline Cool Smashers to become the league’s first-ever foreign champions. In 2024, they returned to the Invitational and secured the bronze medal after edging Thailand’s Est Cola in a thrilling straight-sets battle, 25-22, 26-24, 25-20.

Kobe Shinwa, on the other hand, is no stranger to Philippine volleyball glory. The Japanese squad shared the 2017 PSL Invitational Cup crown with Cignal after completing a dominant three-game sweep in the final round, cementing their status as one of the most formidable visiting teams in local league history.

Former PVL Invitational Conference champion 🇯🇵 Kurashiki Ablaze and former PSL Invitational Cup champion 🇯🇵 Kobe Shinwa Women’s University have been confirmed as the two foreign guest squads for the 2025 PVL Invitational Conference. They will be joined by the top four teams of… pic.twitter.com/mnxp1IboAp

— Volleytrails (@volleytrails) August 13, 2025

The Japanese pair will compete alongside PVL on Tour semifinalists HD Spikers, PLDT High Speed Hitters, Chery Tiggo Crossovers, and defending Invitational champions Creamline Cool Smashers.

The 2025 PVL Invitational Conference is set to spike off on August 21, just four days after the preseason finale between the High Speed Hitters and Crossovers. 

The 10-day tournament will feature a single-round robin format, with the top two teams advancing to a high-stakes winner-take-all championship match. Meanwhile, the third- and fourth-seeded squads will face off in a bronze medal showdown.

With the return of two decorated Japanese squads, combined with the competitive fire of the country’s top PVL teams, this year’s Invitational is shaping up to be one of the most exciting editions yet—blending international flair with the fierce homegrown talent that Philippine volleyball fans have come to love. 

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