The Premier Volleyball League holds a rare Monday pair of matches tipped to heat up the race in the semifinal round of the Invitational Conference with the Kurashiki Ablaze vowing a better, stronger showing against Cignal at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Monday, July 24.

The Japanese side shrugged off an early struggle and dumped Vietnam's Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh, 23-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-11, in the guest teams' league debut late Friday with the former guaranteeing a more explosive outing when they face the HD Spikers in the 4 p.m. opener.