After a shocking defeat to Belgium, reigning world champion Italy reminded everyone why it remains a powerhouse.
The Azzurri made short work of Ukraine, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday, clinching the last spot in the knockout stage of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.
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Alessandro Michieletto led the charge with 13 points on 12 kills and a block, while Mattia Bottolo and Yuri Romano contributed 11 points apiece.
Playmaker Simone Giannelli orchestrated Italy’s offense with 19 excellent sets, helping the World No. 2 squad finish second in Pool F with a 2-1 record.
Their reward: a Round of 16 clash against Pool C leader Argentina.
“It’s amazing to be here, to compete for our goal. Ukraine was a tough opponent, and we’re happy with how we played,” Giannelli said.
“Now we have to recover and go on fire against Argentina. They’re very strong, but we know what we want — we want to go all out.”
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Ukraine’s Yuri Semeniuk and Illia Kovalov tried to rally their team, finishing with 14 and 12 points, respectively, in a gallant but ultimately futile effort.
