Throughout Kurashiki’s time in the Philippines to participate in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, there is one thing they never fail to acknowledge.
The Filipino fans are unlike any other; they are the best.
That’s why Ablaze head coach Hideo Suzuki wasted no time announcing their intention to defend the crown they won on Sunday after surviving Creamline in a thrilling five-set match, 19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 20-25, 15-13.
Moments after dethroning the Cool Smashers and clinching the championship in front of 8,223 fans at the Philsports Arena, Suzuki said through an interpreter, “If Ricky Palou invites us again, we are 100 percent sure that we will come back.”
The Japanese squad, during their short stay in the country, made sure to give back to the immense support they received from the volleyball-crazed fans.
A day before their gold medal match, they visited the kids in Barangay 128 in Tondo, Manila, to host a volleyball clinic and give away presents.
Facing crowd darlings Creamline, Ablaze still heard resounding cheers from their side inside the packed arena, where they also had their own drum squad.
“We are super happy because the support from the Filipino fans is amazing,” added Suzuki.
Suzuki was also amazed at the level of talent in the PVL, making him think about strengthening the relationship between Philippine and Japan volleyball.
He shared his plans to get a Filipino player to join their training in Japan to contribute even more to the growth of the sport here.
“The Filipinos are very skilled in offense, so I plan to build a relation with Japan volleyball and Philippine volleyball,” said the champion coach.
“I also plan to recruit a Filipino player to train with our team and then return here to the Philippines.”
Kyoka Ohshima, Kurashiki’s captain and Final MVP, also expressed how lucky they are to play in such a welcoming and passionate environment.
In just nine days, they became a crowd favorite in the country, receiving numerous requests for photos, autographs, and more.
The Ablaze stars were also delighted as their Instagram and Tiktok engagements spiked thanks to Pinoy fans.
“I feel envious because the audience here is always so numerous, and we got to play in such a great venue,” said Ohshima through an interpreter.
