Japan saves best for last, sweeps Libya to end run in FIVB Worlds

Ryujin Nippon isn't going home empty-handed.

Japan made sure to give the Filipino crowd a parting gift as it wrapped up its 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship run on Wednesday, sweeping Libya 25-20, 25-17, 25-12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Japanese squad bounced back from back-to-back losses to Turkey and Canada to finish Pool G with a 1-2 record, while world No. 75 Libya ended its campaign winless at 0-3.

Kento Miyaura and team captain Yuki Ishikawa delivered their best performances of the tournament. The lefty opposite spiker tallied 15 points on 11 attacks, three aces, and one block, while the longtime skipper chipped in 12 markers.

The win and their overall run will help the team grow, according to Ishikawa.

"This year, we are not doing well, but next year, we will come stronger," said the 29-year-old Ishikawa, who had been limited to just 15 points combined in Japan's previous two matches.

Japan imposed its will from the opening set, turning a slim 16-15 lead into a 24-19 cushion after a service error from Ikhbayri Ahmed Abulubaba Amhimmid. Ran Takahashi finished the set with a powerful spike, giving Japan its first set win of the tournament, 25-20.

It was a similar story in the second set, with Japan pulling away to a 22-15 lead after an 8-3 run sparked by middle blocker Larry Evbade-Dan.

Ishikawa then capitalized on an overpass from Libya, set up by a strong serve from Tatsunori Otsuka, to push the lead to 24-16. Miyaura followed with a kill to seal the set, 25-17.

Japan never looked back in the third. A quick play by Shunichiro Sato stretched the lead to 20-9, which grew to 24-12 off a hammer from Takahashi. Miyaura fittingly closed the match with an ace, capping off Japan’s World Championship campaign on a high note in front of the raucous Pinoy crowd at the Big Dome.

As both Japan and Libya bow out of the tournament, their Pool G rival Turkey pulled off a surprise sweep of the group after dominating Canada 25-21, 25-16, 27-25 earlier in the day.

In another match, world No. 1 Poland overcame a shaky start to defeat the Netherlands 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-22 and complete a Pool B sweep.

Bartosz, who didn’t suit up in Poland’s previous win over Qatar, returned in style with 19 points off 16 attacks, two blocks, and one ace. Poland heads to the Round of 16 with a perfect 3-0 record.

The Dutch, meanwhile, dropped to 2-1.

Also-ran Qatar salvaged some pride with a 20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22 win over Romania, finishing Pool B with a 1-2 record.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News