Young Aleksandar Nikolov comes up big vs. Portugal as Bulgaria seals FIVB Worlds QF berth

Promising outside spiker Aleksandar Nikolov came up big on both ends to steer Bulgaria to a 25-19, 25-23, 25-13 win over Portugal in the Round of 16 in the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship on Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The 21-year-old Nikolov, who emerged as the best attacker and second best scorer of the pool stage, dropped 19 points built on 17 attacks, one block, and one ace together with eight digs and one reception to steer Bulgaria to the quarterfinals.

The win came on the same day their country celebrated its Independence Day. 

Tied at 20-all in Set 2, Nikolov unleashed back-to-back kills that broke the deadlock before his service ace allowed Portugal to cut the deficit to a solitary point, 22-21. 

Nikolov then sent the undefeated Bulgaria to a 23-21 cushion before Aleks Grozdanov clinched the set point at 24-22. Asparuh Asparuhov sealed it with a rejection on Lourenco Martins to give Bulgaria a 2-0 set lead. 

Bulgaria, which now ranks no. 11th in the world, never looked back since then with another young star Preslav Petkov bringing them to a huge 21-11 advantage. Petkov's crucial denial against Andre Pereira completed the sweep for Bulgaria, which will take on either the United States or Slovenia in the next round. 

—JMB, GMA Integrated News