Japan recovered from a third-set stumble and edged Argentina, 27-25, 25-18, 17-25, 25-16, Tuesday night in Week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League Men’s Leg at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It was Japan’s fourth victory in five outings to take the top leaderboard with 13 points ahead of Tokyo Olympics champion France, which has a similar 4-1 card but with 12 points.

Yuji Nishida delivered the heavy blows for the Japanese with 20 kills, three aces and two blocks for 25 points even as team captain Yuki Ishikawa pumped in 18 points highlighted by 15 kills.

Japan survived a close opening set that had Argentina leading early at 11-5 before the Japanese closed the gap at 20-all courtesy of Ishikawa’s monster block.

Both teams fought back but fumbled with their serves until an attack from Japan and an ace from Nishida gave them the set victory.

With Japan finding gaps on Argentina’s blocks, Nishida and Ishikawa launched an attack on all angles to take the second set.

The Argentineans retaliated in the third, only to lose steam in the fourth.

Akihiro Yamauchi scored 10 points for Japan white Taishi Onodera chipped in nine points.

Bruno Lima and Ezequiel Palacios bannered Argentina’s assault with 18 and 13 points, but the Japanese were too tough to handle.

Overall, Japan unloaded 56 kills and nine aces compared to Argentina’s 49 attacks and one ace.