VNL Women's: Ishikawa, Wada take charge as Japan outlasts Serbia in Pasig thriller 

Mayu Ishikawa and Yukiko Wada connived down the stretch to help Japan grind out a 20-25, 26-24, 18-25, 32-30, 15-7 win against Serbia in the 2026 Women's VNL on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena.

Team captain Ishikawa presided over the thrilling escape with a triple-double effort of 24 points, 10 receptions, and 13 digs while Wada came alive late to finish with 20 markers as the world no. 4 Japan extended its spotless run so far to 5-0.

Serbia, meanwhile, dropped to 1-4 despite huge games from Aleksandra Uzelac and Nina Cajic.

Japan broke a 19-all deadlock in the crucial Set 4 with middle blocker Haruyo Shimamura completing a running attack that capped off a 4-2 run and gave her side a 23-21 lead. Another running kill from her allowed Japan to tie things up again at 30-all before her rejection on Anja Zubic sent them to their third set point, 31-30.

Yoshino Sato then closed out the set with a powerful kill that dragged the Serbians to a deciding set.

Wada continued to display her hot hands in the fifth set, unleashing back-to-back kills that gave Japan a 7-4 lead before her drop play from the back row handed her team an 8-5 lead to fuel a telling 6-0 run.

Sato closed out that run with back-to-back aces for a huge 13-5 cushion. Ishikawa delivered the finishing touches by cinching the last two points as Japan completed the five-set escape and remained unblemished.

—JKC, GMA News