WORLD No. 1 Poland booked a stellar 29-31, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 15-13 come-from-behind win over Slovenia to stay on playoff course in the vital Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) men’s tournament Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Poland was as good as advertised, climbing back from two sets down including a slim defeat in the extended first set to follow up its win against Italy last week.
Aleksander Sliwka uncorked 20 points on 18 hits, an ace and a block while three more Poles finished in double digits for Poland, which improved to 7-2 won-lost to join a crowded middle pack in the team standings.
Bartosz Bednosz threw in 14 points while Mateusz Bieniek and Bartosz Kurek had 11 and 10 points, respectively for Poland, which will host the VNL final phase from July 19 to 24 featuring the top 8 teams.
“We wanted to be just as best as we could. We know that Slovenia is a very good team. We have some history and the games against them are always tough. We expected a tough game,” Sliwka said. “They showed it, specifically in the first set.”
Slovenia, the world No. 8, indeed proved a tough nut to crack in giving Poland a run for its own money.
Poland seized control at 20-16 in the opening set and still held a 24-22 cushion before surrendering a 29-31 defeat that snowballed to another 21-25 bowing in the second.
But Poland, being the world’s top-ranked spikers this year, showed steely nerves by winning the next two sets by convincing fashions before breaking free by a whisker in the rubber match after a 12-all deadlock.
Klemen Cebulj put up 20 points while Rok Muzic and Tine Urnaut added 17 and 16 points, respectively, in a foiled cause for Slovenia, which slid to 6-3.
Slovenia eyes revenge against China on Thursday while Poland collides with Brazil the next day.