Kurashiki Ablaze in the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Kurashiki opened its title retention bid in the PVL Invitational Conference on a high note with a 25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21 win against another foreign guest team Est Cola on Wednesday at PhilSports Arena.
Low Mei Cing starred for the defending champion with 22 points from 19 attacks, a pair of aces and a block while four other players contributed twin digits for Ablaze.
“We are very happy to play here in the Philippines but in this first game there are nerves that led to a so-so performance,” coach Hideo Suzuki said through a translator.
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“Thank you to our coach because we trained really hard for this one and I got high points for this team,” Low Mei said. “My teammates also helped me, so I am very happy about that.”
Yukino Yano contributed 15 points including two apiece from blocks and aces as well as 22 excellent receptions while captain Taniguchi Saya got all of her 14 points from attacks.
Saki Tanabe and Mami Gondo each added 11 points as Kyoka Oshima dished out a very effective 26 excellent sets.
Tanabe and Yano also had 11 excellent digs.
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Est Cola, composed mainly of the under-20 players of Thailand, showed potential as Warisara Seetaloed paced her crew with 14 points and got 15 excellent receptions and Nattharika Wasan 11 points.
Down two sets, Est Cola came up with scoring runs to steal the third set from Kurashiki. Kanoiu scored from a combination play to give her team the lead, 22-23.
Taniguchi shortly evened the game but Sasithorn gave the lead back to Est Cola before Natthawan Phatthaisong capped the match by capitalizing on a free ball.
Kurashiki had control of the match even with a 4-0 run by Est Cola trimmed the deficit, 19-17. Gondo committed a service error that made it 23-21, but Honoka Doi came out of there scoring her only two points with a cross-court and an off the block to finalize the win for Ablaze.
Kurashiki will meet Farm Fresh, which Suzuki is also a consultant of, on Thursday at 4 p.m. in the same Pasig City venue hoping to build more momentum.