Kurashiki opened its 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference semifinals campaign with a 23-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-11 victory over fellow foreign squad Kinh Bắc-Bắc Ninh at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Saturday.
Asaka Tamaru exploded for 29 points to help the Ablaze score a huge opening victory to start their Invitationals campaign.
Team captain Yukino Yano added 17 points on 15 attacks along with four excellent receptions, while Saya Taniguchi had 10 markers.
The Japanese squad overcame a slow start in the first set and took the next three frames to seal the victory.
Kurashiki went on to lead by as much as 12 points in the fourth set before Saya Taniguchi and Yano put on the finishing touches.
“Thank you very much for the invite in this competition, and from now on, their level-up will be step-by-step,” said Ablaze head coach Hideo Suzuki through a interpreter.
“It was a very nice experience for us because there were many fans and cheers. I felt that Filipinos love volleyball,” he added.
Wako Kamamura tossed 15 excellent sets for Kurashiki, while Kaoru Takahashi gathered 31 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions.
On the other hand, Nguyen Huong paced the Vietnamese squad with 14 points on 12 attacks and two blocks, while Nguyen Oanh added 10 points on six attacks and four blocks, along with nine excellent digs and six excellent receptions.
Kurashiki will face Cignal on Monday at 4:00 p.m., while Kinh Bắc-Bắc Ninh will try to enter the win column against PLDT later that day at 6:00 p.m.
