JAPAN’S Kurashiki Ablaze will return to defend its championship in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference in September.
The then-Japan V.League Division 3 club dominated in its maiden stint in the league last year by completing a six-game sweep highlighted by a dramatic five-set win over Creamline in the winner-take-all title game.
Just like the first time they won it, Kurashiki will lead a six-team field featuring a yet-to-be-named second foreign guest team and the semifinalists of the ongoing Reinforced Conference, namely Akari, Cignal, Creamline and PLDT.
Lead playmaker and reigning Finals MVP Kyoka Ohshima has her sights set on helpig Kurashiki become only the third PVL team to win multiple championships after Creamline (9) and Petro Gazz (2).
Some key figures of the 2023 champion team who joined various PVL teams over the past year are no longer expected to return, while others remain uncertain.
Now-Farm Fresh head coach Shota Sato, a longtime Kurashiki deputy, confirmed he’ll no longer be at the sidelines for the Japanese team in the upcoming Invitationals.
Farm Fresh consultant and Kurashiki head coach Hideo Suzuki, alongside ZUS Coffee guest import and reigning best outside hitter Tamaru Asaka, have yet to confirm whether they’ll be joining Ablaze’s title defense.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
