Wilfredo Leon dazzles as Poland salvages bronze medal at FIVB Worlds

World no. 1 Poland may have missed the gold this time, but the powerhouse club will still close out its 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship campaign on the podium. 

The Polish turned back Czechia in four sets, pulling off a 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21 win during their battle for bronze on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

Wilfredo Leon was in his usual explosive mode, dropping 26 points anchored on 23 attacks and three blocks to allow Poland secure another medal after a silver finish in the 2022 edition. 

Leon and the rest of the Polish crew had to shake off a sluggish start in Set 4 after history-seeking Czechia cruised to a small 6-4 lead. 

But Poland, who lost to Italy in the semifinals to miss out on the finals seat, slowly pulled away after flipping the switch with a 6-1 run capped by three straight errors from Czechia, taking a 10-7 cushion before Leon used his left hand to convert an out-of-system setup from Tomasz Fornal and make it a 15-10 lead for the world's best team. 

Czechia, though, trimmed the gap and responded with a 7-4 rampage capped by back-to-back points from the 19-year-old Antonin Klimes, 19-17. 

Leon then pulled the trigger once again, firing a hammer from the left wing before he sent another one with authority to bring Poland to the match point at 24-20. 

Lukas Vasina tried to spark a rally with a down-the-line hit in the next play, but his next attempt went straight into the net as Poland completed the four-set romp and seized the bronze medal.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News