ITALY dealt Japan it’s first loss, 29-27, 28-26, 23-25, 25-20, to sweep Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Saturday in front of close to 13,000 animated fans at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Italians came from behind in snatching the first two sets before getting the job done in the fourth frame to end put a screeching halt to the Japanese’ 10-match winning streak.
Italy, which rose to world No. 2 following that big win, thus swept all of its four matches in the Philippine leg to wrap up an impressive campaign at 9-3 for 26 points and claim solo second spot for now.
The Italians’ placing will be determined in the final set of games on Sunday when top-ranked Japan (10-1) and world No. 1 Poland (9-2) duke it out in an all-out battle at 7 p.m.
Once again, it was Yuri Romano who shone brightest as he scattered 16 hits, three blocks and three aces for 22 points for Italy, which also beat Brazil, Canada and Slovenia earlier in the week.
Daniele Lavia, Alessandro Michieletto and Gianluca Galassi got 18, 14 and 11 points, respectively, including a couple of clutch hits for the Italians, who anchored their smooth offense on Simone Giannelli’s 34 sets.
“It’s an amazing win. We improved during the games here. It’s our best week this year. It’s an amazing atmosphere here, especially playing a very good team in Japan. It’s fun.”
Italy scored the telling stretch in the four-set win, clawing back from a 21-24 deficit in the second behind the timely attacks of Lavia and Tommaso Rinaldi.
Rinaldi unloaded two of his five crucial points in that big set—one to save a set point and force a deuce at 24-all and another to complete Italy’s comeback at 28-26.
The win was similar to Italy’s first-set escape act with Romano acing a serve and Lavia blocking Japan captain Yuki Ishikawa’s attack for a 29-27 win.
Japan’s retaliation in the third frame hardly mattered as Italy put on the finishing touches in the fourth, much to the delight of the huge crowd that included top officials of PLDT, VNL Philippine leg presenter, led by Manuel V. Pangilinan, Al Panlilio and Ricky Vargas.
Ishikawa had 21 points while Yuji Nishida and Tatsunori Otsuka had 20 and 15 points for Japan, which missed the services of Ran Takahashi after hurting his right hand in the 3-1 win against the Netherlands.