Manila: Defending champion PLDT battles EST Cola of Thailand in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational which fires off Monday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Bannered by Filipino-Canadian Savi Davison, the High Speed Hitters meet the Thai spikers at 1:30 p.m. Kim Dy, Alleiah Malaluan, Majoy Baron, and Mika Reyes are also expected to deliver for PLDT against EST Cola.
According to Philippines News Agency, PLDT came from behind to beat Japan's Kobe Shinwa University, 21-25, 31-29, 25-22, 25-18, in last year's finals. Multititled Creamline, which won in 2023 and 2024 and finished third last year, takes on Nxled at 4 p.m. while Farm Fresh meets Ho Chi Minh Volleyball Club of Vietnam at 6:30 p.m. With six playdates squeezed into just eight days, the tournament is shaping up as a virtual sprint to the championship.
'It feels like we've already experienced this, back in the first PVL season where the games were played consecutively. So, I suppose what really matters is how we manage to recover -- from the first game to the second, and the ones that follow," Creamline middle blocker Sachi Minowa (Jaja Santiago) said in a news release Sunday. Leading the Cool Smashers are Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, Tots Carlos, Michelle Gumabao, Pangs Panaga, and Bea de Leon.
The Nxled Chameleons will bank on Brooke Van Sickle, Myla Pablo, MJ Phillips, Jonah Escamilla, Chiara Permentilla, Jovelyn Fernandez, EJ Cari±o, and Leyann de Guzman, with support coming from new recruits Gel Cayuna and Jackie Acu±a. Skipper Ces Molina and veteran Ara Galang spearhead the Farm Fresh Foxies against the Vietnamese side, known for fast, skillful, and determined play.
Tuesday's triple-header features PLDT against Nxled at 1:30 p.m., Farm Fresh against EST Cola at 4 p.m., and Creamline against Ho Chi Minh at 6:30 p.m. The tournament takes a break on Wednesday before plunging back into another stretch of back-to-back playdates. The matches on Sept. 6 will close the elimination round, after which the top two teams advance to the championship on Sept. 8. The day's schedule will also feature the battle for third place and the fifth-place consolation match.
