Defending champion Kurashiki is ready for its title defense in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference.
Led by reigning Finals MVP Kyoko Ohsima, the Ablaze will make their much-awaited return to the Philippines this September.
The Japanese squad is looking to retain the crown they won during the 2023 edition of the tournament at the expense of local powerhouse Creamline.
Kurashiki went unbeaten in the 2023 Invitational Conference, sweeping all of their five games in the round-robin semifinals. They then escaped the Cool Smashers in a thrilling Final encounter to post a pristine 6-0 record in the tourney.
Reinforced Conference semifinalists Akari, Cignal, Creamline, and PLDT will compete in the short, six-team tourney, which will be the league’s third tournament in the 2024 calendar.
Another foreign team is set to be announced soon.
Over the past year, key members of the Ablaze went on to play key roles for a couple of PVL squads.
Farm Fresh had signed Kurashiki head coach Hideo Suzuki as a consultant, while assistant coach Shota Sato recently led the Foxies to their first playoff appearance in the import-laced tournament as their head tactician.
(C) PVL Images
Asaka Tamaru – who was named one of the Best Outside Hitters during the Ablaze’s championship run last year – served as ZUS Coffee’s import in the Reinforced Conference.
