Quezon city: EST Cola of Thailand and Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club of Vietnam will challenge local teams in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational starting Monday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The two foreign teams offer a different brand of volleyball, forged by competition outside the Philippines, along with players accustomed to the demands of the regional game.

According to Philippines News Agency, EST Cola already knows what it takes to compete in the Invitational. It finished fourth in its first appearance in 2024 when it was bannered by Thailand's U20 national squad, losing to eventual third-placer and 2023 champion Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan in straight sets. Spearheading the Thai side are hitters Papatchaya Phontham and Nannaphat Moonjakham, middle blocker Waruni Kanram, and liberos Jiratcha Naoprachum and Nichakorn Wansuk. They played together in last year's VTV International Cup, giving EST Cola an added layer of chemistry that could prove crucial in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City will be eager to erase the memory of Vietnam's sixth-place finish in the 2023 Invitational, when Kinh Bac Bac Ninh failed to win a single match. It is determined to show that Vietnamese volleyball remains a force to be reckoned with in the region. Leading the team are hitters Thi Kim Thanh Dang, Thi Bich Diep, and Thi Nha Phuong Nguyen; and middle blockers Thi My Xuyen Le, Thi Nhung Dao, and Thi My Duyen Dang.

Creamline is chasing a third championship in five years, PLDT is looking to make it back-to-back titles, while Nxled and Farm Fresh are also ready for the tough challenge ahead.