Iran head coach Roberto Piazza said their dramatic five-set escape against host Alas Pilipinas was the “crucial point” that shaped their 2025 FIVB Men's World Championship quarterfinal run.
Iran stormed back into the FIVB Men’s World Championship quarterfinals for the first time in over a decade after outlasting Serbia in another five-set classic, 23-25, 25-19, 24-26, 25-22, 15-9, on Tuesday night, September 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
But for head coach Roberto Piazza, the true turning point of their campaign didn’t come against Serbia—it came days earlier, in their dramatic clash with the Philippines.
Iran edged Alas Pilipinas in an emotional five-set thriller that nearly slipped away after a late challenge reversed what would have been the host nation's match-clinching point.
Piazza admitted that moment was where his team’s resolve was tested the most.
“It was a crucial game [against Serbia], but the crucial one was against the Philippines,” Piazza told reporters after the match. “That was maybe when we trained perfect before, because we won an amazing game.”
“In one moment, we lost everything, and for one check, now we are here, I can talk with you about the future. That one was the crucial point,” he added.
Five set experts?
This marks back-to-back five-setters for Iran in the global tilt, staying alive as the lone Asian team left in the tournament.
Iran’s ability to recover from near-collapse, Piazza said, gave the team the toughness needed to grind through back-to-back five-setters.
The veteran coach also emphasized that his players are being conditioned not just to win, but to endure.
"We are preparing the team, all coaches, to arrive exactly on this level, to be able to play 3 games in a row, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2," Piazza explained. "So this one is the mindset that we have to use during this tournament, so I'm not worried at all."
Next test: Czechia
Iran will now face Czechia, the world No. 19 side that has already made history with its first quarterfinal appearance since 1986.
With another European squad ahead for Iran, the Italian mentor is back to the drawing board as they try to reach or even surpass the team’s success back in the 2014 World Championship, where it finished 5th overall.
“Czechia is a strong team, they have experience, they are big, they are tall, they have good blockers,” Piazza said. “We need to be smart on attack. This for me is the key to that game. Now I need to prepare.”
[ALSO READ: Jan Galabov hopes Czechia's historic FIVB Worlds run inspires volleyball back home]
The Iran-Czechia quarterfinal match will be on Thursday, September 25, still at the MOA Arena.
(With reports from Jamie Velasco)
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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.