The saying, “Work hard until your idols become your rivals,” may sound like an empty phrase to some.
But for Argentina’s Luciano Vicentin, it was more like a prophecy fulfilled when he met his destiny on Thursday at the iconic Smart Araneta Coliseum.
At stake was a ticket to the Round of 16 in the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship against back-to-back Olympic gold medalist France.
Avoiding a reverse sweep, Argentina eliminated the French from the tournament.
While the victory itself carried immense significance, it was priceless for Vicentin personally.
Firing off a game-high 22 points, the 25-year-old propelled Argentina to the next round in just his second World Championship appearance.
Through years of hard work, he had finally earned his place in the elite realm of international volleyball, alongside the very idols he once placed on a pedestal.
“I was watching the highlights of some of the players [from France] who were there when I was 14 or 15 years old. The Luciano back then was dreaming of playing this kind of game, so I’m so happy,” he said.
Facing the players he once admired required Vicentin to step up in more ways than one.
Still at the peak of his career, he hopes to maintain this high level of play.
“Now I play with some guys who were [my idols]. It’s not the first time, but I’m playing with players I looked up to as a kid, so sometimes it’s difficult,” he remarked.
“But we are players, we are a team. In the end, we won, so we just have to keep this up.”
Argentina returns to action on Sunday against a yet-to-be-determined opponent in the knockout rounds
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