Games today:

(City of Dasmariñas Arena)

4 p.m. — Chery Tiggo vs ZUS Coffee

6:30 p.m. — Akari vs Creamline

Defending champion Creamline sets its title-retention bid in motion when it takes on reinvigorated Akari in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference Saturday at the City of Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite.

Hoping for a better showing after falling short in the previous three tournaments, the Cool Smashers are out to make a strong statement in their return to action in a rematch of last year’s finale at 6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, ZUS Coffee and Chery Tiggo battle at 4 p.m. in the curtain-raiser of the Pool B double-header.

Creamline parades a new foreign guest player in American Courtney Schwan as the league’s most bemedalled club tries to protect the lone title left in its care after surrendering the All-Filipino Conference and Invitational crowns.

Schwan, a 29-year-old, 6-foot-2 outside spiker from Auburn, Washington, will try to bring the momentum of her success with the reigning US Major League Volleyball Orlando Valkyries into the squad that has not won a championship since its historic grand slam last year.

She’s expected to bring added firepower to the Cool Smashers’ stacked wings along with Alyssa Valdez, Michele Gumabao and returning Tots Carlos. Another dangerous Creamline spiker, Jema Galanza, is reportedly out of commission due to an injury.

Decorated setter Kyle Negrito, liberos Kyla Atienza and Denden Lazaro-Revilla and top middles Bea De Leon, Pangs Panaga and rookie Sheena Toring make the Cool Smashers remain the consensus team to beat.

“This conference is about imports. So, 40 percent of the team’s load will be carried by the import. Her skills and determination to help the team will be a major factor. I think Creamline has an advantage, being a battle-tested team in import-laden tournaments,” head coach Sherwin Meneses said.

The Cool Smashers behind American Erica Staunton defeated the Chargers, who were unbeaten in 10 games heading into the championship, in emphatic straight sets in the winner-take-all match.

Akari seeks payback when it officially opens its campaign in a fortunate reset.

The Chargers actually suffered a five-set loss to ZUS Coffee last Tuesday in an all-Filipino encounter following the delayed issuance of the imports’ international transfer certificate by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF).

In the spirit of competitive parity, PVL teams have decided to replay the opening day games.

Akari will bank on American import Annie Mitchem and the solid local crew of Eli Soyud, Fifi Sharma, Ced Domingo, Chenie Tagaod, Grethcel Soltones, setter Mars Alba and libero Justine Jazareno.

On the other hand, the Thunderbelles will see the debut of American reinforcement Anna DeBeer with the backing of Fiola Ceballos, Riza Nogales, Kate Santiago, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chinnie Arroyo.

The EV Crossovers will parade Kazakh guest player Yunieska Robles-Batista, Ara Galang, Ces Robles, Imee Hernandez, Aby Marano, Renee Penafiel, Pauline Gaston, Jen Nierva and the returning 2022 Reinforced Conference Most Valuable Player Mylene Paat.