Volleyball club teams from Japan and Vietnam will serve as guest teams in the semifinal round of the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference on July 20 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Kurashiki Ablaze from Yokohama and the Kinh Bac Bac Ninh have agreed to the PVL’s invitation to spice up the title chase in the mid-season conference of the league.
The Japan-based squad poses a huge threat, with hitters Saya Taniguchi, Sayaka Tanida, Yukino Yano, and Saki Tanabe and opposite strikers Asaka Tamaru, Reina Fujiwara, and Honoka Okuda leading their charge.
The Kurashiki Ablaze, which campaigns in the Japan V.League Division 3, topped the 13th National Six-Man Volleyball League Western tournament, placed second in the 12th National Volleyball League, and finished third in the 13th National Volleyball League Grand Champion Match.
Kinh Bac-Back Ninh, on the other hand, gained status when it bagged a championship and earned the right to compete in Vietnam’s National Championship in 2018.
Last year, KingWhale Taipei was the lone foreign guest squad after the Japan-based team backed out due to a coronavirus disease infection among its players.
The Taiwanese went on to reach the 2022 PVL Invitational finals but eventually lost to the Creamline Cool Smashers.
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