Creamline to start title defense against Chery Tiggo; Cignal vs Petro Gazz, Farm Fresh vs F2 banner PVL Invitational Conference opener

The Creamline Cool Smashers will start their title defense bid in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference against the reloaded Chery Tiggo Crossovers on the conference's opening day on June 27 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The defending champs, who are coming back with the roster intact, will face the Crossovers, who have acquired the services of former collegiate stars Cess Robles, Jen Nierva, and Joyme Cagande of National University and University of Santo Tomas' Eya Laure and Imee Hernandez.

Their faceoff will be the marquee matchup of the league's opener at 6:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Farm Fresh Foxies will make their debut in the league against the All-Filipino third placers F2 Logistics in the Pool B preliminaries at 1:30 pm.

The Foxies will be bannered by the core of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, including the returning Mycah Go, as well as former Ateneo de Manila University players Joan Narit and Pia Ildefonso.

After this, the Cignal HD Spikers will face Petro Gazz at 4 p.m. for the second Pool B match.

Gerflor will make their PVL debut on June 29 against Creamline, while Foton will also have their return to the league when they face Petro Gazz at 6:30 p.m. on the same day. Sandwiched in these two matches is the Choco Mucho versus Farm Fresh duel at 4 p.m.

Meanwhile, PLDT and Akari will open their respective campaigns on July 1.

A total of 11 teams will be competing in the Invitational, with Pool A comprising of Akari, Chery Tiggo, Creamline, Gerflor, and PLDT, and Pool B with Choco Mucho, Cignal, F2, Farm Fresh, Foton, and Petro Gazz.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News