AMERICAN sports long had the limelight centered on the United States.
But just as in basketball, as evidenced by the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup two years ago, Canada can take Team USA and the big dogs down, too.
Its volleyball team took a page off their basketball counterparts from two years ago by knocking out another powerhouse side in a Philippine-hosted world championship.
READ: Crowd favorite Japan crashes out of FIVB Worlds after loss to Canada
Canada showed world No. 5 Japan the door in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship through a 25-20, 25-23, 25-22 sweep in Pool G on Monday.
Apart from the fact that an outright Round of 16 spot was in the offing, Canada captain Nicholas Hoag took that match against Japan as a chance to make a statement.
USA, ranked sixth in the world, might’ve been making wave with the local fanfare and stellar performances in the world stage, but No. 11 Canada also knows a thing or two about leaving a mark.
“We always try to beat them and to beat the best teams in the world. We have the potential to do it, we just need the consistency,” Hoag said.
“You saw it today against one of the best teams in the world that we can beat them 3-0 despite Japan playing well. We can do something.”
Being pooled with Japan and playing against them did have a significant downside — that being the fact that the Filipino fans were mostly rooting against rather than for them.
But somehow, Hoag found peace amid the noise and even described it as an apt environment for him and the young Canadians to thrive and succeed.
“On the court, it felt very calm. Despite all the noise and obviously everyone cheering for Japan, it’s fun. It’s fun to play in an environment like that but I didn’t feel like we’re stressed or anything,” Hoag said.
“We were very calm and collected and we applied the game plan the whole time so it’s great, it was great," he added. “Despite the young age of all the guys on the team, it proves a lot of maturity.”
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