Manila may have been a battleground for Nimir Abdel-Aziz and the Netherlands for the 2024 VNL, but it also became a place where their efforts were celebrated and appreciated.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Netherlands ace Nimir Abdel-Aziz was the most prolific scorer in the Manila leg of the 2024 Volleyball Nations League (VNL).
Abdel-Aziz lit up the taraflex of the Mall of Asia Arena, breaching the 30-point threshold thrice in a four-game stretch.
The 32-year-old opposite hitter raised the curtains to the Manila leg last June 18 with a 38-point spectacle against Brazil. He then followed it up with a pair of 37-point explosions against Iran and Canada as the week went on.
However, even with his herculean efforts, Abdel-Aziz, who made league history as the only player to score 30 points in five matches, could not lead the Dutchmen to a single victory in Week 3.
Netherlands formally bowed out of contention on Saturday, June 22, ending its campaign with a 3-9 record in 13th place.
"I think we had a good fight, we gave everything. It was not enough but I am proud of the team," Abdel-Aziz said.
"We wanted to fight, we wanted to give our best, and I really don’t care about the individual points because I am just proud of the team and how we stood on the court."
Despite the setbacks of the Netherlands, the Filipino crowd remained steadfast in their support, cheering on Abdel-Aziz and his brothers-in-arms with unwavering enthusiasm.
After being at the receiving end of such warmth and love, Abdel-Aziz went on to praise the Philippines.
"The thing for us volleyball players, it’s one of the best places to play because the fans are here, they are supporting everybody. So, it’s not just the home crowds like in other venues," he shared.
"So, here we feel support from everybody, every game, doesn’t matter who we play [against]. Maybe a little less [cheers] against Japan but for the rest, we feel a lot [of support], so it feels great to play here."
Manila may have been a battleground for Abdel-Aziz and the rest of the Dutchmen, but it also became a place where their efforts were celebrated and appreciated