The 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League gets underway on Easter Sunday with four explosive matches at the Philsports Arena, headlined by local powerhouses Creamline and PLDT making their international debut against elite Asian club teams.
Fresh off a grueling Premier Volleyball League season, both squads aim to make a strong impression in the week-long tournament featuring 12 of the continent’s best club teams. Reigning PVL champion Petro Gazz sits out opening day with a bye.
Creamline Cool Smashers, bolstered by their latest reinforcements, take on Jordan’s Al Naser Club in the 4:00 PM main event in Pool A, while PLDT High Speed Hitters battle Australia’s Queensland Pirates in Pool D at 7:00 PM.
Cool Smashers head coach Sherwin Meneses expressed confidence that his team has sufficiently recovered from their taxing campaign and is ready for the international spotlight.
(C) PVL Images
“Hopefully, makaka-recover sila. Pero I think mabilis makaka-recover yung team. Sa AVC, I think, laging competitive naman ang Creamline,” said Meneses. “End of the day, mga competitive talaga ‘tong mga players na ‘to.”
Leading Creamline’s charge is American import Erica Staunton, a key figure in their 2023 Grand Slam run. She is joined by towering Kazakh middle blocker Anastassiya Kolomoyets and Russian outside hitter Anastasya Kudryashova.
Veteran setter Rhea Villarete also joins the roster, teaming up with Kyle Negrito in the playmaking duties.
Creamline’s opening day opponents, Al Naser Club, are fielding a formidable lineup featuring three Brazilian wing spikers — Isabela Paquiardi, Pully Klein, and Natiele Goncalves — expected to provide a major offensive boost.
On the other hand, PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort emphasized the honor and learning opportunity in representing the country on the continental stage.
(C) PVL Images
“We’re really excited for the privilege ng pag-represent ng PLDT at ng Pilipinas. Hopefully, sa first game namin, malabas agad namin ang laro namin at makuha ‘yung result na gusto namin,” said Ricafort. “For sure, marami kaming makukuhang experience at learning mula sa tournament na ito.”
The High Speed Hitters are banking on Cuban reinforcement Wilma Salas, who will team up with explosive scorers Savannah Davison and Kianna Dy in leading the local offense.
They will be tested by Queensland’s roster, led by Australian Volleyball Super League All-Star Kylee White, national team standout Emma Burton, and rising talent Scarlett Rudder.
Action begins at 10:00 AM with Kaohsiung Taipower of Chinese Taipei clashing with Hong Kong’s Hip Hing in Pool B, followed by a 1:00 PM Pool C showdown between powerhouse Baic Motor (China) and Saipa Tehran (Iran).
The 2025 AVC Champions League is supported by Mikasa, Mizuno, and Grand Sport. Matches will be aired live on One Sports, One Sports+, Pilipinas Live, and Volleyball World.
The 12 participating teams are divided into four pools of three.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals with cross-matchups as follows: A1 vs D2, A2 vs D1, B1 vs C2, and B2 vs C1.
Winners will move on to the semifinals on the road to the championship.
