In the third week of the Volleyball Nations League 2025 Men's Preliminary Round (Chiba, Japan), the Japanese national team played against Brazil on Friday, July 18th (local time) and lost 0-3 (21-25, 23-25, 26-28). With this, Japan's overall record is 7 wins, 4 losses and 20 points, and their final round advancement will be postponed until the final day.
Participating members
Japan
Starting line-up: MB Larry (0), OP Miyaura (11), OH Tomita (10), MB Nishimoto (8), S Nagatsuyu (1), OH Takahashi Ai (4), L Ogawa
Substitutes: MB Yamauchi (0), S Oya (0), OH Kai (5), OP Nishiyama (7), OH Yamazaki (0), MB Sato (3)
Brazil
Starting line-up: OH Onorato (3), MB Flavio (14), OP Alan (11), OH Bergman (11), MB Judeson (8), S Fernando (1), L Mike
Substitutes: S. Matthäus (2), O.P. Darlan (2)
Match Overview
In the first set, Japan's OP Miyaura was active, scoring eight points with a spike and two consecutive service aces, but the team as a whole struggled with Brazil's five blocks and defense, and Brazil took the lead 21-25.
In the second set, Brazil effectively deployed a variety of attacks from S Fernando, OP Alan, MB Flavio, and others, and in the middle of the game, they had a maximum lead of 5 points at 13-18, but from there, MB Nishimoto and OH Kai, who came in as a substitute, made it 20-21, just one point behind. However, they were unable to close the gap any further and Brazil won the set 23-25.
In the third set, Japan started with S Oya, OH Kai, OP Nishiyama, and MB Sato. Thanks to the efforts of OP Nishiyama, OH Kai, and MB Nishimoto, Japan scored points and took a maximum lead of 5 points at 15-10. However, with a total of four blocks by MB Flavio and S Matheus, Brazil turned the game around to 18-20. From there, Japan took the game to deuce at the last minute due to an opponent's mistake, but in the end, OP Alan scored an attack point and Brazil won 26-28, and Japan lost 0-3.
Match stats (English)▼
https://vnlm.volleystation.com/en/matches/2227688/
personal MVP
Nishiyama Hiroto
Opposite
7 goals (attack 7)
Attack Effectiveness Rate 50%
She entered the court in the middle of the second set and scored one after another with her strong decisiveness. When I saw her play in Bulgaria, she seemed to be struggling with spikes, but she seems to have gotten used to high blocks and performed well this time. She is showing steady growth. However, it's a shame that we didn't get to see any service aces.
Flavio Gualberto
Middle Blocker
14 points (8 attacks, 6 blocks)
Attack Effectiveness Rate 64%
Despite being a middle blocker, he was a veteran who scored the most points of both teams with 14. It was very difficult to stop his high and sharp quick shots, and he blocked Japan's attacks. In the third set, he also assisted consecutive breaks on serve, greatly contributing to the comeback from a maximum 5-point deficit. I hope that one day Japan will have a middle blocker with such an overwhelming presence.
Toshiki's comment
Japan was missing two players, Ishikawa Yuki and Onodera Taishi, due to poor condition during the match.
However, Brazil was so strong that I don't know if they could have won the set even if they had been there. Not only Flavio mentioned above, but also setter Fernando's toss work looked outstanding. I remember saying "Wow!" many times while watching the video.
On the other hand, although Japan lost, I think they gained something from Nishiyama and Nishimoto's performance. However, their blocking of the opponent's mid-range attacks, which they were unable to stop this time, will be an important factor in the next match against the United States.
They need to beat the United States to qualify for the final round on their own.
The US team in this tournament is mainly made up of young players, but they are also packed with highly athletic players and are certainly not an opponent to be underestimated.
I want to get in shape tomorrow and give it my all on the final day to advance to the final round.
Qualifying Round Rankings
As of 23:00 on Friday, July 18th
1 Brazil 9 wins, 1 loss, 26 points, 29/9 sets ★
2 Italy 8 wins, 2 losses, 22 points, 27/14 sets ★
3 Poland 7 wins, 3 losses, 20 points, 25/15 sets
4 Japan 7 wins, 4 losses, 20 points, 24/17 sets
5 France 6 wins, 3 losses, 18 points, 22/13 sets
6 Ukraine 6 wins, 4 losses, 18 points, 24/19 sets
7 Cuba 6 wins, 4 losses, 18 points, 24/20 sets
8 Slovenia 6 wins, 4 losses, 17 points, 19/17 sets
9 USA 6 wins, 4 losses, 16 points, 19/18 sets
10 Iran 5 wins, 5 losses, 16 points, 22/21 sets
11 Argentina 5 wins, 6 losses, 14 points, 21/24 sets
12 Germany 4 wins, 6 losses, 15 points, 21/22 sets
13 Bulgaria 4 wins, 5 losses, 12 points, 16/18 sets
14 Canada 3 wins, 6 losses, 11 points, 16/20 set
15 Türkiye 3 wins, 7 losses, 9 points, 11/22 set
16 China 2 wins, 8 losses, 7 points, 9/25 set
17 Netherlands 1 win 9 losses 5 points 11/28 set
18 Serbia 1 win, 8 losses, 3P, 7/25 set
★ Advancement to the final round decided
Next race information
July 20th (Sun) 19:20～ vs USA
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Photo: FIVB
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