PH-Japan friendlies kick off countdown for 2025 FIVB men's worlds

MANILA – The Alas Pilipinas men and women teams will have friendly matches with two top Japanese clubs at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City this weekend, kicking off a year-to-go countdown for the country's solo hosting of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship (MWCH).

"The ball is served!" said Ramon "Tats" Suzara, head of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation on Wednesday, fresh from his election as president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation last Friday in Bangkok, Thailand.

On Sept. 7, Alas Pilipinas Women will face Saga Hisamitsu Springs at 3 p.m. while the Alas Pilipinas Men will meet Osaka Bluteon at 6 p.m.

The four teams will play again following the same schedule the next day to conclude the friendlies that precede the much-anticipated Draw on Sept. 14 at the Solaire Resort Hotel.

Tickets to the friendlies are available through Ticketmax.ph.

"It's all systems go for the preparations heading to the world championship that will be marked with year-long activities including a Trophy Tour that would bring the MWCH trophy to key cities in the country," Suzara said.

Back-to-back Olympic champion France and world's No. 1 Poland lead the 32-nation field for the tournament set Sept. 12-28.

The Philippines, as host, is seeded along with reigning world champion Italy.

The FIVB announced the roster for the MWCH with 15 slots filled through the continental championships last year and the remaining 15 completed just before the start of the one-year countdown to the prestigious tournament.

World's No. 4 Slovenia is the third team from Europe to qualify through the continental competitions while world's No. 3 USA, No. 11 Canada, and No. 12 Cuba earned slots from the North, Central America, and Caribbean confederations.

The other qualifiers were world's No. 7 Brazil, No. 9 Argentina, and No. 45 Colombia from South America; world's No. 6 Japan, No. 15 Iran, and No. 21 Qatar from Asia; and world's No. 20 Egypt, No. 44 Libya, and No. 50 Algeria from Africa.

The final 15 slots were filled entering September 2024, with 11 berths claimed by European teams Germany, Serbia, The Netherlands, Ukraine, Belgium, Türkiye, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Portugal, Finland and Romania.

Asian powerhouse China (No. 25) and Korea (No. 28) also made the field, along with African squad Tunisia (No. 24), and South America's Chile (No. 27).

Bryan Bagunas, Buds Buddin, and Josh Ybanez will lead the Philippine team, while Volleyball Nations League (VNL) fan favorites Ran Takahashi and Yuki Ishikawa of Japan and Micah Christenson and Matt Anderson of the US are also expected to rock the SM Mall of Asia Arena and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the world championship.

Jean Patry will spearhead France, which is favored to keep the core of the Olympic team that also won the 2024 Volleyball Nations League. Poland, the silver medalist in the Paris Games and third runner-up at VNL, will rely on Wilfredo Leon to remain on top of the rankings. (PNA)