Games today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

1:30 p.m. — Est Cola vs PLDT

4 p.m. — Nxled vs Creamline

6:30 p.m. — Ho Chi Minh City vs Farm Fresh

PLDT begins its title defense in an early acid test against foreign guest team Est Cola of Thailand as hostilities in the short but challenging 2026-2027 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference erupt today at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Opening serve of the triple-header playdate curtain-raiser is set at 1:30 p.m. followed by an exciting all-local clash between Nxled and Creamline, which will parade prized recruit Jaja Santiago-Minowa in its bid for a 12th league crown, at 4 pm.

Farm Fresh, meanwhile, opens newcomer Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club of Vietnam in 6:30 p.m. nightcap.

The High Speed Hitters had a perfect run last year for the second of its back-to-back championships.

With the PVL On Tour Showdown shifting to a purely preseason format with no title on the line, PLDT is motivated for its first-ever title defense.

The High Speed Hitters swept their On Tour Showdown campaign.

“At least we have something to look forward to in the Invitationals, which for sure won’t be easy. We’ll prepare well for that and hopefully have a great showing,” PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort said.

Ricafort is pinning his hopes once again on veterans Savi Davison, Kim Kianna Dy, Majoy Baron, Alleiah Malaluan, setter Kim Fajardo and top libero Kath Arado while newcomer Leila Cruz is expected to finally debut after her transfer from Capital1.

EST Cola, formerly composed of Thailand’s Under-20 national squad, already knows what it takes to compete in the Invitational. It finished fourth in its first appearance in 2024, losing to eventual third-place finisher and 2023 champion Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan in straight sets.

This time, however, the Thai side returns with greater familiarity and cohesion — and loftier ambitions.

Leading its title charge are hitters Papatchaya Phontham and Nannaphat Moonjakham, middle blocker Waruni Kanram, and liberos Jiratcha Naoprachum and Nichakorn Wansuk.

The five standouts also have the benefit of having played together in last year’s VTV International Cup, giving EST Cola an added layer of chemistry that could prove crucial in a tournament where teams must navigate a demanding six-game schedule in just eight days.

On the other hand, the Cool Smashers eye a follow-up to its All-Filipino Conference conquest with the 6-foot-5 Minowa leading the way.

Minowa, back in the PVL since powering defunct Chery Tiggo to the 2021 Open Conference championship inside the Ilocos Norte bubble, showed a glimpse of what she could bring to the table during Creamline’s On Tour Showdown closing match sweep of Galeries Tower in Victorias City, Negros Occidental last week.

The Chameleons are no easy prey as they try to topple a stacked Creamline side to send a strong message to the rest of the field.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City has something to prove in its participation.

Vietnam’s new representative will be eager to erase the memory of the country’s sixth-place finish in the 2023 Invitational, when Kinh Bac Bac Ninh failed to win a single match.

The Foxies, led by reigning season MVP Trisha Tubu and veterans Ces Molina and Royse Tubino, are on a mission to level up after a breakthrough semifinal appearance in the AFC.