CREAMLINE plays Japan’s Kurashiki Ablaze in a rematch of last year’s Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference Final today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Cool Smashers look to avenge last season’s heartbreaker as they face the Ablaze at 6 p.m., hoping to cap a triumphant week with a victory.

Gunning for a record 10th PVL crown, Creamline opened its Grand Slam bid with a 25-13, 25-12, 25-15 sweep of young EST Cola crew from Thailand last Friday in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

There was no hangover for the Cool Smashers, who captured their first Reinforced Conference crown in six years last Wednesday, as American Erica Staunton, Bernadeth Pons and Gel Cayuna shone.

The winner will gain a crucial advantage toward securing the first finals berth in this swift, nine-day, five-team competition.

Meanwhile, Cignal will aim for back-to-back victories, taking on EST Cola at 4 p.m.

Although Kurashiki will be without its former top scorer Asaka Tamaru, Creamline faces a far more challenging predicament, missing three of their key players.

Based on their performance against the Thais, the Cool Smashers are looking good to prevail over the Ablaze.

To overcome an in-form Kurashiki side, however, Creamline needs more than just experience and grit.

With limited preparation time due to the tight schedule, coach Sherwin Meneses underscored the need for the Cool Smashers intense focus ahead of the rematch.

“Sure ako na may training kami, at hopefully magtuloy-tuloy yung ganda ng laro namin hanggang matapos tong Invitational,” said Meneses, who won six titles as Creamline coach. “Paghahandaan talaga namin ng mabuti ang Kurashiki.”

The Ablaze are expected to come into the match with a similar sense of urgency, driven by the desire to repeat their success against the Cool Smashers and secure another PVL title.

Setter Oshima Kyoka, last year’s Finals MVP, will be the glue that will stick Kurashiki together, Mei Cing Low and Saki Taniguchi have been producing good numbers so far.

The HD Spikers, bracing for their Reinforced Conference semis with the Cool Smashers, are motivated to break in to to the title round.

Cignal’s only Finals appearance was in the 2022 Reinforced Conference where it placed second to PetroGazz. The HD Spikers have a league-most five third-place finishes.

“Right now, ang focus ay yung team namin. How to recover din talaga, especially yung starting six na kailangang kailangan din ng pahinga and we will balance it,’ said Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos

After a brief respite on Tuesday, the HD Spikers will face the Ablaze on Wednesday, with hopes of sweeping all their matches to secure a spot in the championship game.

The final is set for Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.