Bulgarian star setter Simeon Nikolov appreciates that Alas Pilipinas' Josh Ybañez looks up to him.
Bulgarian star setter Simeon Nikolov left the MOA Arena with more than just a victory Saturday, Sept. 13.
After guiding Bulgaria to a 40-38, 25-22, 25-20 sweep of Germany in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship, the 18-year-old playmaker learned that he gained the admiration of Alas Pilipinas star libero Josh Ybañez, who looks up to him as his idol.
[RELATED STORY: Nikolov brothers star in Bulgaria’s crushing of Germany in FIVB World Championship]
Earlier in the week, Ybañez shared that Nikolov was one of the international players he was most excited to meet in the global tilt.
“I’m excited to meet Moni Nikolov and, of course, Erik Shoji,” Ybañez said in a video interview by Volleyball World.
“They are the athletes or the players that I look up to, and they inspire me to play volleyball.”
Simeon Nikolov hopes to meet Josh Ybañez
When told of Ybañez’s admiration, the 18-year-old playmaker could not help but smile.
“I didn’t know that I was his idol,” Nikolov said after the match.
“It means a lot. I hope I can meet him. It says a lot, being somebody’s idol, so I’m very thankful for the kind words.”
Nikolov backed up the “idol” tag with his dazzling display on the court, tallying 28 excellent sets and even chipping in nine points to steer Bulgaria to a crucial victory in Pool E.
Aside from Ybañez, plenty of Filipino fans showed support for Nikolov and the rest of Bulgaria since arriving in Manila.
“It’s been amazing. We got welcomed from the very first minute here in the Philippines,” Nikolov said.
“We’re very thankful for the Filipino fans, and we hope we can keep them happy by winning games.”
The Bulgarians will look to continue their strong outing as they face another powerhouse in World No. 6 Slovenia Monday, Sept. 15, still at the MOA Arena.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA and various international tournaments.