KOBE Shinwa University made a triumphant return to Philippine volleyball, downing depleted ZUS Coffee in a 25-14, 27-25, 25-17 sweep in the 2025 PVL Invitational Conference on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.
The Japanese side made its long-awaited PVL debut three years after its aborted Invitational campaign due to pandemic-related restrictions.
Still led by champion coach Kiyokazu Yamamoto, the 2017 Philippine Superliga (PSL) Invitational Cup titlists pounced on an undermanned Thunderbelles squad that only had 10 available players.
"It was a little bit hard, but I think it was good that our rhythm came out from the middle. In the first set, the players were a little bit nervous," said Yamamoto.
"We were a little bit worried, but their game came out little by little, so it was a good game."
Team captain Sakura Furuta's 18 excellent sets led the young Japanese side's quick rout of the preseason's sixth-placers.
"I was very nervous at first, but as the game went on, I really wanted to enjoy with my teammates and we really enjoyed playing today," Furuta said.
Kobe Shinwa's outside hitters carried the heavy load on offense, with Nagisa Komatsuda posting 15 points and eight digs along with Kokoro Yasuma's 12 points and two receptions.
Out for ZUS Coffee due to various reasons were Thea Gagate, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Chinnie Arroyo, AC Miner, Mycah Go, Fiola Ceballos, Alyssa Eroa, Danivah Aying, and team captain Cloanne Mondoñedo.
Quick stumble, quicker bounce-back
The Thunderbelles zoomed to a 5-1 start in the opening set, only to see it get erased by Komatsuda and Yasuma's joint attacking front. Kobe Shinwa went on to lead by as much as 10 in that set alone.
A closely-contested second frame unraveled, with ZUS Coffee even reaching set point first.
Through an attack each from Komatsuda and Yasuma, topped with an attack fault from Thunderbelle Wielyn Estoque, Kobe Shinwa held fort for a 2-0 set edge and took full control of the third set to secure a dominant debut win.
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