Unbeaten PLDT colleges Kobe Shinwa in 4-set thriller for PVL Invitational crown

Purple-hot PLDT retains the hearth burning shiny in its PVL golden surge, dropping feisty Kobe Shinwa College of Japan within the knockout last to earn the 2025 Invitational crown amid a 13-game, 2-conference undefeated streak

MANILA, Philippines – Two titles in two weeks.

Proving their golden PVL preseason run was no fluke, the PLDT Excessive Velocity Hitters doubled down on their profitable methods, battling fatigue on the best way to the 2025 PVL Invitational title after beating Japan’s Kobe Shinwa College, 21-25, 31-29, 25-22, 25-18, on the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, August 31.

Together with the eight-game, eight-province PVL on Tour, the star-studded group heads off to a near-two-month break with a 13-game profitable streak that showcased a number of key cogs like Savi Davison, PVL on Tour Finals MVP Mika Reyes, the resurgent Kianna Dy and Alas Pilipinas prospect Alleiah Malaluan.

Gaining momentum from an important, cardiac comeback in Set 2 that averted a 2-0 gap, PLDT stayed consistent with Kobe Shinwa with a late third-set surge to grab full momentum come the fourth body.

With widening cracks of their armor, the Japanese standouts delivered assault errors one after the opposite to make up virtually half the Excessive Velocity Hitters’ early 14-11 benefit that set the stage for the eventual blowout win.

Heads nonetheless held excessive, Kobe Shinwa now returns residence to Japan with silver medals and beneficial classes after ending the eliminations with a 4-1 report, highlighted by a charming reverse sweep in opposition to PVL on Tour runner-up and former league champion Chery Tiggo to succeed in the knockout last.

Creamline goes 19-for-19 in podiums, caps fifth bronze

In the meantime, mighty Creamline refused to exit empty-handed anew, because the Cool Smashers cruised to their fifth franchise bronze medal off a 25-15, 25-13, 25-22 demolition of rival Chery Tiggo.

Due to a game-high 17-point effort by former MVP Michele Gumabao, Creamline prolonged its eight-year podium streak to 19 straight appearances relationship again to its inaugural convention in 2017.

Ageless Alyssa Valdez, in the meantime, flirted with a triple-double in only a three-set win with 9 factors, 18 glorious receptions and 13 digs, as Jema Galanza backstopped Gumabao with 12 factors.

Ara Galang and Cess Robles paced the sorry loss with 10 and 9 factors, respectively, because the Crossovers fell out of the rostrum after being only one set away from reaching the knockout last in opposition to Kobe Shinwa. – Rappler.com