KOBE Shinwa University took on every challenge in the 2025 PVL Invitational Conference with its signature smiles, screams, and shouts on full display.
The Japanese young guns, with an average age of just 19, would be dancing and singing along on the court and from the bench in the five games they played so far.
May it be through victories or defeats, the positive demeanor of Kobe Shinwa’s entire team, from the players and coaches to their staff members, has been nothing short of infectious.
That encouraging energy willed the Japanese to a five-set comeback past Chery Tiggo, 21-25, 17-25, 26-24, 25-22, 15-6, to reach the title game.
Kobe, or not to be
For one, the Japanese people are soft-hearted and joyous in nature.
And Kobe Shinwa head coach Kiyokazu Yamamoto made it a point to instill that optimism to his young players in their trip to the Philippines.
“I always remind my players to scream and shout and put in their energy during games. It shouldn’t just be the players on the court, but the players on the bench should also be part of it,” Yamamoto said.
“That’s a sign of good teamwork. It shows that they’re playing as one team.”
Team captain Sakura Furuta also embraces that role of being a vessel of positive energy on the court just like what the rest of her teammates have shown from the bench.
As she put it, “It’s important for us, especially when we’re not playing well on the court, to hear the cheers from my teammates on the bench. It really helps us.”
Throughout the tournament, Yamamoto's messaging has been one and the same towards his players - that being to enjoy every second of every game.
And so, ace spiker Nagisa Komatsuda took it upon herself to embody that spirit and pick up as much as she can before heading back home by the end of the Invitationals.
"When we go back to Japan, there’s a league waiting for us. Today, we won a five-set match, which is a great experience for us. It gave us confidence for the fifth set," she said.
"I just want to remind myself not to get nervous, to enjoy playing volleyball, and just show you how we play."
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