AND still, Italians rule the men’s game.
Italy completed a successful title defense in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, dealing Bulgaria its only loss of the conclave in dominating fashion, 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10 on Sunday night.
A record 16,429 fans turned up at the Mall of Asia Arena - the most for a men’s volleyball game ever played in Philippines - to witness Italy win its fifth world title and become just the fourth nation to defend the gold after the Soviet Union, Brazil and Poland.
Even in defeat, Bulgaria posted its best finish since a breakthrough silver medal at the 1970 campaign on home soil. This time, Bulgaria won all its matches bar the last one.
Yuri Romano, the tournament’s best opposite hitter, caught fire with a 22-piece built on 16 attacks, five aces and one block. He landed all five of those aces in succession to close out the second set.
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FIVB Worlds MVP Ale Michielleto had 11 points, behind a strong 19-point performance from one of Italy’s late national team entrants, Mattia Bottolo.
Captain Simone Giannelli, now twice an FIVB Worlds best setter, posted 36 excellent sets and four points.
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