Fans are in for an electrifying ride as the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference kicks off Thursday, August 21, 2025 with six powerhouse squads – including two guest teams from Japan – going all out in a high-stakes, compact tournament designed to challenge not just their skill and strategy, but their grit, stamina and composure under pressure.
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, are 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 Saturday (Aug. 23) 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 Aug. 31 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.
Meanwhile, the PVL On Tour concludes this Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, where the High Speed Hitters and the Chery Tiggo Crossovers will battle for the crown at 6:30 p.m., following the third-place duel between Creamline and the HD Spikers at 4:00 p.m.
With international flair, fierce local rivalries and a high-speed schedule, this year’s Invitational Conference promises nothing less than thrilling volleyball from start to finish.
