Turkiye pulled off a massive upset to kick off its 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship campaign, sweeping world No. 5 Japan, 25-19, 25-23, 25-19, in their Pool G clash, Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Ranked 16th in the world, the Europeans notched their first win over the Japanese since 2016 while putting on a complete performance on both ends.
“We played really good. Tactically, my players played good volleyball,” said head coach Slobodan Kovac, who celebrated his 57th birthday with the victory.
“Today, we stopped that (discipline issues), especially because we served and blocked really good.”
Outside hitter Efe Mandiraci delivered the breakthrough, unleashing five of his team’s seven aces, including the one that pushed Turkiye to match point in the third frame. He finished with two blocks and a game-high 17 points.
Opposite Adis Lagumdzija added 15 markers, capping the shocker with the winning point while chipping in three kill blocks and an ace.
Turkiye led in every scoring category — 7-1 in aces, 8-6 in kill blocks, and 37-33 in spikes — while committing fewer errors, 21 to 23.
Japan, which had dominated the series over the past eight years, struggled to find its rhythm.
Kento Miyaura led the Asian powerhouse with 13 points built on 11 kills, a block, and an ace, while skipper Yuki Ishikawa contributed 10 points, all off attacks.
Fan-favorite Ran Takahashi could not find his rhythm on offense, finding himself held to just four points.
