Volleyball fans are in for a big Easter Sunday treat with four explosive matches marking the kickoff of the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Two of the Premier Volleyball League’s top squads – Creamline and PLDT – see action on Day 1 of the week-long tournament, which showcases some of Asia’s best club teams aiming to flaunt their world-class talent and skills in front of passionate local fans still buzzing from the recent PVL All-Filipino Finals.
Newly-crowned PVL champions Petro Gazz are sitting out opening day with a bye, while Creamline and PLDT hit the court early, both reinforced by key additions expected to bolster their respective title bids.
The Cool Smashers will debut in Pool A against Jordan’s Al Naser Club at 4 p.m., while the High Speed Hitters will take on Australia’s Queensland Pirates in Pool D at 7 p.m. The eight-day event is supported by Mikasa, Mizuno, and Grand Sport.
Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses believes his team has had enough time to recover from a grueling five-month PVL season and is ready to refocus on the continental stage.
“Siyempre, mga competitive kasi mga players. So, end of the day, siguro nag-iisip din yan. Pero, sa ngayon, nakabalik na sila sa kani-kanilang mga bahay (Of course, the players are competitive. So at the end of the day, they're probably thinking about it too. But for now, they've already returned to their respective homes),” said Meneses.
Veteran setter Rhea Villarete has also joined the squad, teaming up with Kyle Negrito to orchestrate plays as the Cool Smashers set their sights on a podium finish.
Meanwhile, PLDT coach Rald Ricafort shared his excitement as the High Speed Hitters prepare for their international debut, embracing the honor of representing the country and the club.
“We’re really excited for the privilege ng pag-represent ng PLDT at ng Pinas. Hopefully, sa first game namin, malabas agad namin ang laro namin at makuha ‘yung result na gusto namin. But for sure, marami kaming makukuhang experience at learning sa tournament na ‘to (We’re really excited for the privilege of representing PLDT and the Philippines. Hopefully, in our first game, we can immediately show our game and get the result we want. But for sure, we’ll gain a lot of experience and learning from this tournament,)” said Ricafort.
PLDT will lean on Cuban import Wilma Salas, with Savannah Davison and Kianna Dy anchoring the local attack. Their opponents, Queensland, feature top-tier talents including Australian Volleyball Super League All-Star Kylee White, national team player Emma Burton and rising star Scarlett Rudder.
The tournament begins with Kaohsiung Taipower (Chinese Taipei) facing Hip Hing (Hong Kong) in Pool B at 10 a.m., followed by a highly anticipated Pool C clash between China’s Baic Motor and Iran’s Saipa Tehran at 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s Al Naser Club, Creamline’s first opponent, has bolstered its squad with three explosive Brazilian wing spikers – Isabela Paquiardi, Pully Klein, and Natiele Goncalves – adding firepower to its campaign.
Games will air on One Sports, One Sports+, Pilipinas Live, and Volleyball World.
The tournament format divides the 12 teams into four pools of three. The top two squads in each group advance to the quarterfinals, where cross-pool matchups will determine the semifinalists: A1 vs D2, A2 vs D1, B1 vs C2, and B2 vs C1.
