Aleksandar and Moni Nikolov cherished the rare opportunity to play in front of their parents as they led Bulgaria to a historic semifinal victory over Czechia in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 on Saturday night.
Their parents, Vladimir and Maya—both retired volleyball players—traveled to the Philippines to surprise the brothers and witness their four-set triumph over Czechia, 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22. The win secured Bulgaria’s first appearance in the gold medal match in 55 years.
The Nikolov brothers described the moment as special not only for Bulgaria but also for their family.
“Very special. They actually surprised me—I didn’t know they were coming. I’m happy they got to watch the game live,” Aleksandar told reporters after the match.
“It’s very special. I had no idea they were coming, so it was a nice surprise,” added Moni, who admitted he was genuinely touched by their parents’ presence.
For Aleksandar, having his parents in the stands for what was arguably the most important victory and best performance of his life made the occasion even more meaningful. The 21-year-old outside hitter delivered his finest outing of the tournament, scoring 31 points on 27 kills, three aces, and a block—matching the tournament-high mark previously set by Belgium’s Ferre Reggers.
“It’s probably the most important and best game of my life, so I thank them for always supporting me,” said Aleksandar, the tournament’s leading scorer.
Moni, meanwhile, said it felt only right for their parents to witness the game, as they were the ones who guided the brothers to this moment and deserved much of the credit. He contributed 43 excellent sets along with nine points on five attacks, two blocks, and two aces.
“I hope my dad and my mom feel proud of the team, of us—especially me and my brother—because they raised us to be where we are today, and they deserve a lot of credit,” Moni said.
Vladimir—who was part of the Bulgarian squad that last won a medal, a bronze at the 2006 World Championship in Japan—said the achievement was monumental for his sons, particularly because he himself never reached a World Championship final during his illustrious career.
“You know, I had a pretty successful career, but I never had a chance to play in the World Championship final. So this is very special,” said the former Olympian.
“I’m proud of Team Bulgaria, not just my kids. They worked incredibly hard. They dreamed big, and this final is probably the best thing they could achieve so far.”
#WATCH: Vladimir Nikolov beams with pride as sons Alex and Moni reach the #MWCH2025 final — a special moment he never got to experience as a player 🇧🇬🏐
📹 Jonash Dannug/Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/uW0so4LRDf
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 27, 2025
