Two Japanese squads will spice up the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference kicking off Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

Fresh from a dynamic PVL On Tour leg, the four local semifinalists are set to collide with international flair as Kurashiki Ablaze and Kobe Shinwa University make their much-anticipated appearance.

Kurashiki, the 2023 Invitational champions, is back for a third straight year, eager to reclaim the title that eluded them last season. In 2024, they settled for third place in the tournament won by the Creamline Cool Smashers.

Creamline will open the tournament with a marquee clash against Cignal at 4 p.m. on Thursday. PLDT and Chery Tiggo will square off in the day’s main game at 6:30 p.m., promising a double-header to remember.

Adding intrigue to the tournament is the debut of Kobe Shinwa University, finally making its PVL bow after having to withdraw from the 2022 edition due to pandemic-related restrictions in Japan.

The Japanese squads will go head-to-head in a much-awaited showdown on 23 August at 4 p.m. at the Philsports Arena, giving fans a preview of their elite level of play.

The Invitational Conference will follow a single round-robin elimination format. The top two teams will advance to the one-game championship match set for 31 August at the Araneta Coliseum. A bronze medal match will precede the finals, ensuring fans get back-to-back high-octane action to close out the month.