World no. 8 Argentina bucked a slow start to overcome Finland in five sets to open their 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship bid.
Argentina is off to a strong start in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship after escaping Finland in a five-set thriller, 19-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, September 14.
Storming all the way back from a two-set deficit, the Argentinians managed to force the first five-set match in this year’s World Championship.
Tied at 6-all in the fifth frame, the world no. 8 squad pulled ahead behind a 5-1 blast capped by team captain Agustin Loser’s kill block.
From there, Argentina held on to its lead to close out the comeback win.
Pablo Koukartsev led Argentina with 20 points, while Luciano Palonsky added 19 markers in the win.
Argentina will go for back-to-back wins against South Korea next.
Finland, on the other hand, faces reigning Olympic champions France in a must-win duel.
Both games will be on Tuesday, September 16, still at the Big Dome.
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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.