Games today:

(PhilSports Arena)

4 p.m. — Kurashiki Ablaze vs Cignal

6:30 p.m. — PLDT vs Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh

Local clubs Cignal and PLDT test their mettle against foreign guest teams as they try to keep their finals hopes alive in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference today at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The HD Spikers get the first shot at showcasing their caliber when they take on the well-disciplined and defense-oriented Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan in the semifinals curtain-raiser at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, marching inside the court at 6:30 p.m. are the High Speed Hitters to face Vietnam's Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh in the main feature of the double-header playdate.

Unbeaten defending champion Creamline has already pulled away from the pack in the race for a championship slot, leaving PLDT, Cignal, idle F2 Logistics and the two guest teams scrambling to keep pace.

The sister teams HD Spikers and High Speed Hitters sport identical 1-2 carryover win-loss records for a three-way tie with the Cargo Movers. Both are in desperate need of winning their last two games to better their chances of advancing to the gold medal round.

With just a day of recovery and rest after a heartbreaking five-set loss to Creamline last Saturday, Cignal head coach Shaq delos Santos knows very well that his team needs to play with a sense of urgency to remain in the title hunt.

He is pinning his hopes on another stellar performance from prolific scorer Ces Molina, who dropped 28 points in the HD Spikers' 25-23, 16-25, 21-25, 26-24, 10-15, defeat. Delos Santos also expects support from skipper Rachel Anne Daquis, Jovelyn Gonzaga, middle Riri Meneses and playmaker Gel Cayuna.

"As they say, the ball is round. We've prepared for battle and the team with the better condition will prevail. We just need to give our best," Delos Santos said.

"We have to address our lapses against Creamline and hopefully we'll play better in our next game."

But playing the Japanese Division III club won't be a walk in the park.

The Ablaze did struggle in the opening set against their Vietnamese rivals but once the Japanese found their rhythm and their defensive sets kicked in they proved too much for Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh to handle.

Kurashiki flexed its vaunted floor defense with 73 digs anchored on Kaouru Takahasi's 31 while Asaka Tamaru hammered away with 29 points in the Ablaze's 23-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-11, win last Saturday.

"I know we're playing against a very strong team in our next game but we will do our best to get the win," Kurashiki head coach Hideo Suzuki said.

"We also know that our next opponents have lots of fans watching them. We will show their fans the kind of game that we have," added the Japanese mentor, who finds Daquis as Cignal's most dangerous player.

Also leading Japan's charge are skipper Yukino Yano and Saya Taniguchi, who both scored in double figures against Vietnam.

On the other hand, PLDT will be riding the crest of its 25-21, 25-19, 25-18, dismantling of F2 Logistics to draw closer to a finals berth.

Carrying the fight for the High Speed Hitters are Royse Tubino, who uncorked 20 markers last game, Fiola Ceballos, Mika Reyes and Dell Palomata. Mean Mendrez, however, remains doubtful after sitting out the previous match due to a minor knee injury.

Looking to bounce back are Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh's Nguyen Huong, Nguyen Oanh, Le Xuan and Nguyen Ngoc.