PLDT has a golden opportunity to win its second PVL title in as many weeks.
On top of that, it can stretch its franchise-best win streak to 13 if it wins the 2025 PVL Invitational.
READ: Vengeful Kobe Shinwa aims to break down PLDT wall in PVL final
This would entail sweeping seven preseason games and six Invitational games — a feat the High Speed Hitters can add to its unprecedented run over the last two months.
Standing on the opposite end of PLDT’s pursuit of more history is an up-and-coming college team from volleyball powerhouse nation Japan.
Kobe Shinwa University, led by 2017 Philippine Superliga (PSL) Invitational Cup champion coach Kiyokazu Yamamoto, has a shot to become the second foreign team since compatriots Kurashiki Ablaze two years ago to win a PVL title.
Here’s all you need to know before two champion sides clash for the PVL Invitational crown on Sunday.
FINALS: #1 PLDT vs. #2 Kobe Shinwa
August 31 | Sunday | 6:30 p.m. | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Four days since winning the PVL on Tour, PLDT didn’t seem to skip a beat as it went on a four-game sweep of the Invitational preliminaries.
In the five games Kobe Shinwa had to play in a span of a week, it took down four PVL sides in Creamline, Cignal, Chery Tiggo and ZUS Coffee except one — PLDT.
The Japanese side’s only loss in the tournament thus far came at the hands of a streaking High Speed Hitters side in three closely-contested sets, 20-25, 22-25, 23-25.
It was even PLDT that had to pull off multiple comebacks, particularly in the last two sets, to put away a gutsy Kobe Shinwa side in straight sets.
What made the difference in that win more than anything for PLDT was its ruthless blocking, 12 to one.
Net defense proved to be enough for the High Speed Hitters to get the win in a rare occasion in which their opponents were able to out-attack them, 51 to 44, with Kobe Shinwa’s leading scorer Nagisa Komatsuda’s 21-piece at the forefront.
"PLDT has strong defense, a fast setter, and quick attacks. Our plan is to break their defense with aggressive serving. In our last game, we lost all close sets because of some errors—that’s something we’ll work out," said Kobe Shinwa captain Sakura Furuta.
"We believe we still have a chance to win." 
Backed by a stellar playmaker in captain Furuta and ace wingers Kokoro Yasuma and Arisu Ishikawa, will Kobe Shinwa have enough in the tank to repulse Savi Davison, debuting rookie ace Alleiah Malaluan and the rest of PLDT’s full-strength core for the title?
"Added motivation na lang na galing kami sa championship. 'Yung pag-manage na lang talaga ng katawan at saka yung makalaro kami ng Sunday na mabawasan nang konti 'yung pagod, and at the same time, aaralin pa rin talaga 'yung kalaban," said PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort.
"Talagang ite-take pa rin namin as a new challenge 'tong this Sunday."
BATTLE FOR THIRD: #3 Chery Tiggo vs. #4 Creamline
August 31 | Sunday | 4 p.m. | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Creamline’s perfect podium streak in all of the PVL’s 18 prior tournaments will be put to the test against a vengeful Chery Tiggo side.
The Crossovers were one set away from the PVL Finals when it held a two sets to none lead over eventual title contender Kobe Shinwa.
They would then falter on the receiving end of a reverse sweep, 25-21, 25-17, 24-26, 22-25, 6-15, and be relegated to the bronze-medal game instead.
While Chery Tiggo’s championship grudge match is no longer on the table, it has quite the edge in the battle for third after beating Creamline in the preliminary round.
Contrary to their fate against Kobe Shinwa, the preseason silver medalists were on the other side of a 25-20, 24-26, 21-25, 25-17, 17-15 five-set comeback to take down the Cool Smashers.
Cess Robles produced a 16-point, 10-dig, 10-reception triple-double behind Ara Galang’s 20-point performance.
MVP contender Jema Galanza had a triple-double of her own with a game-high 23 points, 12 receptions and 10 digs along with Alyssa Valdez’ 17-point, 10-dig double-double and reigning Invitational MVP Michele Gumabao’s 21 markers.
Does Creamline have enough in its arsenal to stretch its unrivaled streak to 19 podium finishes in succession or will Chery Tiggo drive past the 10-time champions to complete a hat-trick of PVL medals?
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