Italy silences Bulgaria to clinch back-to-back FIVB Men's World Championship titles

Defending champion Italy endured a third set hiccup before regaining control to turn back Bulgaria, 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10, and reign supreme in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Yuri Romano, Mattia Bottolo, and Alessandro Michieletto took turns powering the Azzurri, who secured their second straight world title. The victory also echoed Italy’s golden run in the 1990s, when it ruled the globe with three consecutive championships in 1990, 1994, and 1998.

Romano took charge with 22 points, highlighted by five straight aces in Set 2, while Bottolo and Michieletto chipped in 19 and 11 markers apiece. 

Bulgaria kept the race tight in Set 2 with Alex Nikolov bringing them within just a point, 16-17, before the Italians released a wild 6-0 blast fueled by five straight aces from the lefty opposite hitter Romano as they took a 23-16 cushion. 

Another ace, this time from Bottolo, sealed the second frame as Italy moved a set away from sealing the championship. 

But Bulgaria, who has shown its ability to crawl back from a 0-2 set deficit after beating USA in five sets in the quarterfinals, mounted the same fightback in Set 3 with Nikolov serving his own ace to bring them to a 15-10 lead. 

Martin Atanasov and Asparuh Asparuhov then provided the last two points as they avoided a sweep loss and dragged the Italians to a fourth-set showdown. 

The youthful tandem of Michieletto and Bottolo was the one to finish it off for the world no. 2 Italy with the former unleashing two consecutive points for a 9-3 advantage. 

Bottolo then caught fire from the service line, drilling four aces during an emphatic 8-1 finishing kick that ended Bulgaria’s Cinderella run and sealed Italy’s second straight world championship.

The loss spoiled yet another explosive outing from Nikolov, who detonated for 23 points anchored on 21 attacks, one block, and one ace. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News