KURASHIKI is primed to reassert its dominance, while Creamline looks to avenge last year's heartbreaker as they face off on Sunday in a highly anticipated rematch in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational 2024. Their clash comes exactly one year after the Ablaze edged the Cool Smashers in a historic five-set thriller to become the league's first-ever foreign champion. Match time is set for 6 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, where the winner will gain a crucial advantage toward securing the first finals berth. Earlier at 4 p.m., Cignal will aim for back-to-back victories, taking on winless EST Cola after an emphatic straight-set win over Farm Fresh last Friday. Although Kurashiki will be without its former top scorer Asaka Tamaru, Creamline faces a far more challenging predicament, missing three of their key players. Despite this, the Cool Smashers are no strangers to defying the odds, having dominated the upstart Akari Chargers in last week's Reinforced Conference finals. To overcome an in-form Kurashiki side, however, they'll need more than just experience and grit. Kurashiki, unbeaten since last year's six-game sweep of the tournament, has extended its streak with commanding victories over Thailand's EST Cola and Farm Fresh. Creamline, meanwhile, showed no signs of fatigue when it dismantled the young Thai side last Friday, just two days after securing its second Reinforced Conference title — and ninth championship — by beating Akari. Kurashiki is expected to come into the match with a similar sense of urgency, driven by the desire to repeat its success against Creamline and secure another PVL title. Head coach Hideo Suzuki will likely rely on his deep roster, including standouts Saya Taniguchi, Mei Cing Low, Ayano Tsuji, Yukino Yano, Miho Kawamura and Saki Tanabe. Bernadeth Pons has been in stellar form for Creamline, capping off her week by sweeping both the Conference and Finals MVP honors. Import Erica Staunton has also been delivering the firepower and hustle needed while Michele Gumabao has stepped up as a leader.
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