August 29, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — There’s a purpose why Japan volleyball is world class.
It was in full show within the Premier Volleyball League Invitational final evening as Kobe Shinwa College spanked Cignal, 25-7, 25-18, 19-25, 27-25, to boost its title playoff ambition.
The youthful Japanese squad was in whole management within the first two units and, after blinking within the third set, recovered its rhythm in time to erase a 22-24 deficit and snatch the set and the victory on the Good Araneta Coliseum.
It was their third win in 4 outings that propelled Kobe Shinwa to a share of No. 2 with Chery Tiggo, whom the previous will sort out in a giant recreation at 4 p.m. right now on the identical venue.
It’s a knockout setto with the winner gaining the fitting to face PLDT (4-0) in a knockout finale Sunday on the Massive Dome.
“Filipinos are recognized for his or her huge serves, that’s why we adjusted our reception,” mentioned Kobe Shinwa spiker Nagisa Komatsuda by an interpreter.
Komatsuda fired a match-high 21 factors, main Kobe Shinwa in a trumping of the HD Spikers who dropped to 1-4.
Cignal had all the probabilities to ship the match right into a deciding fifth set however the Japanese group confirmed grace below stress.