Manila: Creamline kicks off its campaign in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational against Nxled on Aug. 31 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Cool Smashers will face the Chameleons at 4 p.m.

According to Philippines News Agency, Creamline is coming off an impressive two-game run in the PVL On Tour Showdown. They have an almost intact roster and have added the experience and imposing presence of Sachi Minowa (Jaja Santiago). The 6-foot-5 middle blocker made her much-awaited return last weekend, scoring six points in Creamline's three-set win over Galeries Tower in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

'We're ready, especially now that Jaja is with us. If we can play well, I think it will make things easier for us. Of course, everyone will be watching us, so as a team, we have to be ready. With Japan and Creamline, people will definitely be keeping an eye on us. But we're going to work hard and prepare for this,' Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses said in a news release Thursday.

It was Minowa's first game on local soil since she helped Chery Tiggo capture its first and only PVL championship in the 2021 Open Conference inside the Ilocos Norte bubble. She will leave for the U.S. after the Invitational to join the San Francisco Signal in League One Volleyball.

Jema Galanza, Tots Carlos, Michelle Gumabao, Pangs Panaga, and Bea de Leon will carry the offensive and defensive load, while newcomer Ishie Lalongisip adds another weapon to an already formidable roster. Alyssa Valdez, the team's heart and soul, continues to show flashes of the vintage form that made her one of the league's biggest stars.

'I think we handle it by training harder and smarter, especially now. We also really need to keep communicating because we have new teammates fitting into an established system. Constant communication is key,' Valdez said.

Meanwhile, defending champion PLDT will battle EST Cola of Thailand at 1:30 p.m. while Farm Fresh and Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam square off at 6:30 p.m.