TOP-RANKED Poland trounced Romania, 34-32, 25-15, 25-0, to usher in its redemption tour in style, wrapping up the explosive second day of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Poles, also the 2025 VNL champions, eluded a near-defeat in a cold first-set play with a 3-0 finishing kick from a surprising 31-32 deficit before steamrolling the world No. 21 Romanians in the next two sets for a 1-0 slate in Pool B.
Super spiker Wilfredo Leon churned out 14 points on 11 hits while team captain Bartosz Kurek added 13 points on 10 attacks for Poland, which is out to avenge a 1-3 finale loss at home to reigning world champion Italy in 2022.
Tomasz Fornal chipped in 10 points with Marcin Komenda providing 13 sets and 12 digs.
“It’s way too early to speak about the (gold medal). First, we have to focus on the group to advance; every game is super important for our seeding, for our confidence, so I’m happy that we started this tournament like we did,” said Kurek, who earned the Best Opposite Spiker award in the last world joust.
“The first step wasn’t easy though. But after I think we played familiar to our normal level, we had it under control. Congrats to Romania, I think they are gonna be a tough opponent to whoever’s gonna be standing on the other side of the court.”
Robert Adrian Aciobanitei was the lone bright spot with 11 points for Romania, which wasted multiple set points in the opener, missing out on a golden opportunity to slay the world’s top squad.
Poland gained a piece of Pool B leadership with the Netherlands, which scored a gutsy 25-18, 25-23, 26-28, 25-23 win over Qatar earlier behind the 20 points of Michiel Ahyi.
In Pool G games also at the Big Dome, Turkey stunned world No. 5 and crowd darling Japan in a 25-19, 25-23, 25-19 sweep while Canada grinded out a 22-25, 25-20, 25-12, 29-27 win over Libya in its first world championship match in 43 years.
Over at the Mall of Asia Arena, top contenders USA and Slovenia starred with commanding victories to seize the lead in Pool D and E, respectively.
Behind the 17 points of Ethan Champlin, the USA drubbed Colombia, 25-20, 25-21, 25-14 while Slovenia clobbered Chile, 25-19, 25-20, 25-16 with Toncek Stern firing 15 points to lead the way.
Joining the USA atop Pool D was Portugal, which tallied a 20-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19 win over Cuba, led by Nuno Marques with 19 points.
Bulgaria, spearheaded by Aleksander Nikolov’s 28 points, stunned Germany with a 40-38, 26-22, 25-20 win to tie Slovenia in front of Pool E.
Action continues Sunday with four games each at the same venues for the preliminary rounds until Sept. 8, before the top two teams from each group advance to the final phase, starting with the Round of 16 at the MOA Arena until the finale.
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