Nuno Marques and Portugal were the first international team to land in Manila for the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship. 10 days later, they were also the first to score an upset.
It took Portugal 23 years to return to the FIVB Men’s World Championship.
But it took them just one game in the 2025 edition to show they are back with a purpose and are not to be taken lightly.
Nuno Marques unloaded 19 points as Portugal shocked world no. 10 Cuba, 20-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19, in Pool D action on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“We’re just happy with the performance — not just mine but the team’s,” Marques said. “It’s good to have games like this, and I hope to continue playing this way.”
[ALSO READ: Portugal stuns world no. 10 Cuba for first win in 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship]
Filip Cveticanin and Jose Pinto added 14 points each, as Portugal joined the United States as early winners in their group.
After dropping the first set, Portugal was quick to regroup to level the match and then grabbed control with a strong third frame.
Portugal opened the fourth set with a 4-0 run and never looked back, securing its first World Championship win since 2002.
Early Arrival, Early Reward
Portugal was the first international team to land in Manila last September 3.
10 days later, they also became the first team to take down a higher-ranked opponent in this year’s edition of the World Championship.
Nuno Marques (No. 9) and Kelton Tavares (No. 2) celebrates during Portugal’s clash against Cuba in the FIVB Men’s World Championship | Photo: Volleyball World
The decision to arrive early, sweat through the humidity, and grind through practices while others stayed home may have made the difference.
“It was a really big trip and physically hard to recover. But almost two weeks here made a difference for us to feel ready for the competition. Now we’re fresh,” Marques admitted.
That freshness showed against Cuba, although it took a while to find their footing.
Portugal enjoyed an 11-7 blocking edge and benefitted from an error-prone Cuban side that committed 31 miscues in the entire match.
Back on the big stage
Marques wasn’t even born the last time Portugal celebrated a World Championship win — a preliminary-round victory over Poland in 2002.
That 2002 squad advanced to the quarterfinals before bowing out to then-Yugoslavia.
What followed was a painful exile as Portugal missed five straight World Championships, with the country fading from volleyball’s global conversation.
Still, Portugal clawed back this year not as favorites, but as one of the top 15 non-qualified teams through the FIVB world rankings.
[ALSO READ: Everything you need to know about Pool D of the FIVB Men’s World Championship]
Nuno Marques and Portugal were all smiles after pulling off a four-set against world no. 10 Cuba in Pool D play of the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship | Photo: Volleyball World
“It means a lot. It's one of the best competitions in the world, and everyone wants to play here. You want to continue playing and try to win,” the 20-year-old said about what the stunning win meant to Portugal.
“We can play really well, and we were able to show that,” he added.
Up next for Portugal is a tall task in a showdown with Team USA, while Cuba aims to bounce back in taking on Colombia.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.