Pride will be on the line as Japan and Libya tussle to avoid a winless campaign in the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship.
Fan favorite Japan and underdog Libya will be seeking to avoid a winless campaign at the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship as they collide in the last Pool G match of the tournament on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Japan was unceremoniously dumped out of the competition after suffering sweeping losses in the first two games, making it just the third time in Ryujin Nippon history to not move forward to the second phase of the tournament.
[RELATED: Ran Takahashi admits Japan dealing with ‘many issues’ after early exit in FIVB World Championship]
Meanwhile, world no. 75 Libya have shown flashes of brilliance in their earlier matches and will try to translate it into a win.
Kento Miyaura stands as Japan’s biggest offensive weapon as their leading scorer in the tournament with 23 points. Libya, for their part, rely on Ahmed Ilkhbayri who has 36 markers across two games.
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SET 1
- Ran Takahashi's ace pushes Japan to a 2-1 edge.
- Larry Ik Evbade-Dan with a sharp kill from the frontcourt for Japan, 4-2.
- Libya evens it at 6-6.
- Sato's service goes wide, 8-8.
- Takahashi, off-the-block! Japan up, 10-9.
- Takahashi again! 11-11
- Sato gives Japan a 14-12 lead.
- Mohamed Ikhbayri with an emphatic crosscourt hit! Libya within one, 14-15.
- Larry Ik Evbade-Dan gives Japan a three-point cushion, 18-15.
- Kento Miyaura swings an ace for Japan, 19-15.
- Japan now enjoys a five-point cushion, 21-16.
- Ishikawa with a hit this time for Japan, 22-17.
- Mohamed Alghoul tries to will Libya with an attack,19-23.
- Libya saves one set point, but Ran Takahashi quickly retaliates with an off-the-block hit to seal the set for Japan, 25-20.
- Ishikawa leads Japan with five points all on attacks after the first set, followed by Takahashi's four.
- Ikhbayri paces Libya with five points, Abulababa tallies four after the opener.
SET 2
- Ishikawa with an ace! Japan, 5-4.
- Block by Japan! 7-5
- Mohamed Garwash hurls a crosscourt kill for Libya, 6-8.
- Miyaura's serve hits the net, but Takahasi made up for his teammate's error. Japan, 11-7.
- Three straight points for Libya trims its deficit to 12-15.
- Takahashi's hit shoves Japan to 17-13.
- Libya towers at the net against Miyaura, 14-18.
- Abulubaba rifles in a hit, but Miyaura quickly counters for Japan, 20-15.
- Ishikawa gives Japan a six-point spread, 21-15.
- A block again on Miyaura! Libya, 16-22.
- Japan now at set point, 24-16.
- Japan goes 2-0 sets up on Libya.
- Miyaura and Ishikawa each log ten points after two sets to lead Japan. Takahashi has eight.
- Ikhbayri (9 points) and Abulababa (six) still lead Libya after two sets.
SET 3
- Libya scores first, but Japan quickly evens it, 1-1.
- Back-to-back points by Japan, 4-2.
- Libya scores via an off-the-block hit, 3-5.
- Miyaura sees a spot down the line. Japan, 7-4.
- Sato with a service error. Japan, 9-6.
- Miyaura hurls an ace! Japan, 11-6.
- Takahashi doubles Japan's lead over Libya, 14-7.