Kobe Shinwa head coach Kiyokazu Yamamoto credited his team's "challenger mentality" for fueling their upset of the Creamline Cool Smashers in the 2025 PVL Invitational.
Kobe Shinwa University proved that they belong among the toughest contenders in the 2025 PVL Invitational after shocking defending champion Creamline Cool Smashers in four sets, 27-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21, on Tuesday, August 26, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Japanese squad bounced back strongly after their close loss to the PLDT High speed Hitters on Monday.
After the match, head coach Kiyokazu Yamamoto lauded the resilience and composure shown by his squad composed of collegiate players against the Cool Smashers’ fast-paced offense.
“Yesterday's match against PLDT was a close one, but we couldn't get the last two points, and we lost because of our own mistake,” Yamamoto said during the post-game press conference.
“Creamline has a very fast offense, aggressive serve, and strong defense, so we needed to be careful.”
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But instead of backing down, Kobe Shinwa embraced the role of challengers as four players finished in double-digit scoring.
Kokoro Yasuma led the way with 23 points, followed by Arisu Ishikawa and Nagisa Komatsuda with 16 each. Reira Miyazaki added 11 markers in the win.
“In our match against PLDT, all the sets were close but we lost. I told my players after the match that we are the challengers. That’s why my players played much better today,” Yamamoto added.
The win not only boosted Kobe Shinwa’s morale but also tightened their hold on a potential championship berth.
With a 2-1 record, they are now tied with Chery Tiggo at the No. 2 spot, while Creamline slipped to 1-2 and are now in danger of missing the Finals.
Up next, Kobe Shinwa will test their momentum against the Crossovers on Friday, August 29, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.