By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Matches Saturday
(MOA Arena)
10 a.m. – USA vs Colombia
1:30 p.m. – Cuba vs Portugal
5:30 p.m. – Germany vs Bulgaria
9 p.m. – Slovenia vs Chile
(Araneta Coliseum)
10:30 a.m. – Canada vs Libya
2 p.m. – Japan vs Turkey
6 p.m. – Netherlands vs Qatar
9:30 p.m. – Poland vs Romania
Excitement intensifies in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship as crowd favorite Japan and 2022 runner-up Poland headline a packed Saturday schedule on Sept. 13 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Japanese squad, a consistent crowd darling, goes up against Turkey at 2 p.m., while world No. 1 Poland battles Romania in the evening’s marquee matchup at 9:30 p.m.
The day kicks off at Araneta Coliseum with a 10:30 a.m. clash between Canada and Libya, while the Netherlands and Qatar slug it out at 6 p.m.
Action also unfolds at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City where the United States takes on Colombia at 10 a.m. Cuba meets Portugal at 1:30 p.m., Germany faces Bulgaria at 5:30 p.m., and Slovenia wraps up the day against Chile at 9 p.m.
With eight matches spread across two premier venues, fans are in for a thrilling day of world-class volleyball.
But focus is on Japan, who is expected to draw a large number of fans as it seeks to eclipse its 12th place showing in the 2022 edition held in Poland and Slovenia.
Ranked No. 5 in the world, Japan’s victory at the 2023 Asian Championship earned them a slot in the tournament as one of the three representatives of the continent. French coach Laurent Tillie, who is in his first year with the team, hopes to draw strength from captain Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi, as well as opposite Kento Miyaura, libero Tomohiro Yamamoto and middle blocker Taishi Onodera.
But expect stiff resistance from an equally talented Turkish crew, which earned qualification via the FIVB World Ranking. Like Japan, the world No. 16 Turkey hopes to surpass its 11th place finish the last time — its best performance in the last five appearances — with Serbian head coach Slobodan Kovac leaning on outside hitter Efe Mandiraci, Adis and Mirza Lagumdzija, and setter Murat Yenipazar.
In the other matchup, 2023 European champion and traditional powerhouse Poland is expected to flaunt its firepower anchored on outside hitters Wilfredo Leon, Tomasz Fornal and Kamil Semeniuk, as well as opposite Bartosz Kurek and middle blocker Jakub Kochanowski.
Romania, for its part, aims to make an impact in its return to the event for the first time since 1982 with outside hitters Adrian Aciobanitei and Daniel Chitigoi forming the core of its crew along with outside hitter Alexandru Rata and middle blocker Bela Bartha.
