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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider USA, Iran battle separate rivals in FIVB Worlds quarters

USA, Iran battle separate rivals in FIVB Worlds quarters

Published Sep 24, 2025 02:43 pm

At A Glance

  • The race for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship heats up as world No. 4 United States and lone Asian team Iran clash with separate quarterfinal opponents on Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Gabriel Garcia is set to banner USA in its quarters campaign. (Volleyball World)
Gabriel Garcia is set to banner USA in its quarters campaign. (Volleyball World)
The race for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship heats up as world No. 4 United States and lone Asian team Iran clash with separate quarterfinal opponents on Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Americans tackle the dangerous world No. 14 Bulgaria in the 8 p.m. nightcap, while the four-time Asian champion Iranians battle the world No. 18 Czechs in the 3:30 p.m. curtain-raiser.
Finishing sixth in the previous edition, the United States hopes to boost its chances of ending its title drought it last won in the 1986 edition held in France.
Star setter Micha Christenson is expected to anchor the squad along with the team’s top scorer Gabriel Garcia and Jordan Ewert after showing their prowess in their 19-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-20 victory over Slovenia in the Round of 16 last Monday, Sept. 22.
Garcia actually led the service department at the end of the pool stage, while Ewert ranked fifth among the best diggers in the tournament so far.
But Bulgaria has been looking solid so far, having dropped only two sets so far in the tournament -- both in a hard-fought five-set win over Slovenia in the group stage.
Riding the crest of their 25-19, 25-23, 25-13 triumph over Portugal in the Round of 16, the Bulgarians have already eclipsed their 20th place showing in the 2022 edition.
Top attacker Aleksandar Nikolov, who also ranked No. 2 in the scoring department during the group stage, is expected to fuel Bulgaria’s offense, with defense coming from Aleks Grozdanov, Iliya Petkov and Martin Atanasov.
In the other pairing, Iran hopes to keep the Asian flag afloat after coming off a tough 23-25, 25-19, 24-26, 25-22, 15-9 win over Serbia in the Round of 16.
Another win for the Iranians would eclipse their best finish so far of a sixth place in 2014.
Not to be outdone were Czechia, which swept Tunisia, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23, to advance.
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