Belgium continued its sensational run in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship with a 25-21, 25-17, 25-21 triumph over Finland, punching its ticket to the quarterfinals against reigning champion Italy on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Ferre Reggers once again proved unstoppable, firing 20 points on 18 hits and two aces as the world No. 15 Red Dragons tied their best-ever finish in the 32-team tournament with a quarterfinal berth.
Belgium, which finished eighth in the 1970 edition, now has a chance to surpass that mark when it faces world No. 2 Italy, which dismantled Argentina, 25-23, 25-20, 25-22, to advance.
(C) WMPBL
The upcoming clash will be a rematch of their dramatic preliminary-round encounter, where Belgium stunned Italy in five sets, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-13.
Reggers led the charge alongside team captain Sam Deroo, who contributed 19 points on 15 hits and four blocks.
Stijn D’Hulst orchestrated Belgium’s offense with 24 excellent sets, guiding the Red Dragons in their world championship return after missing the 2022 edition.
“First of all, we’re very proud and very satisfied with this achievement, with the goal we accomplished, and with the tournament we are playing,” said head coach Emanuele Zanini.
“Today was not our best game, particularly in the first set. We started very roughly and emotionally, but our more experienced players supported the young core to settle in, and then we started to play. I’m really satisfied and proud of the players’ performance.”
After a three-day break following a perfect Pool F campaign against Ukraine and Algeria, Belgium surged ahead with a 4-0 closeout in the opening set to take control against a resolute Finnish side.
(C) WMPBL
The Red Dragons steadily wore down Finland in the middle sets, winning 18-12 in the second and 10-6 in the third, closing out the match in 79 minutes.
Joonas Jokela stood out for Finland, finishing with 14 points in a campaign that saw the world No. 18 team reach the Round of 16 after missing the 2022 edition.
Finland had earlier claimed second place in Pool C behind previously unbeaten Argentina, highlighted by a five-set upset over reigning Olympic champion France.
Meanwhile, Italy leaned on Alessandro Michieletto (15 points), Yuri Romano (14), and Mattia Bottolo (13) to secure their quarterfinal slot, with reigning World Championship MVP and Best Setter Simone Giannelli delivering 34 sets and three points in the sweep against Argentina.
Belgium now gears up for a quarterfinal battle against Italy on Wednesday at the same venue, aiming to continue its remarkable run and make history for the Red Dragons.
