The 2025 Volleyball World Championship began with heartbreak for the hosts, as the Philippines lost 0–3 to Tunisia in their debut match in Pasay.
The home team, playing in front of a packed arena, couldn’t shake off opening-night nerves. Tunisia, far more seasoned on the international stage, punished every mistake and ran away with the first set 25–13, including a stunning 10-point scoring run. The Filipinos tried to regroup in the second set, showing more energy, but Tunisia’s balance in attack and defense proved decisive once again, sealing the frame 25–17. The third set turned into a thriller. Spurred on by the crowd, Bryan Bagunas delivered two aces and finished with a match-high 23 points, keeping the hosts in contention until 21–21. However, Tunisia’s composure shone through in crunch time. Oussama Ben Romdhane, who scored 17 points, delivered the key blows, before Khaled Ben Slimene closed the match at 25–23.
Tunisia’s superior blocking (10–3) and fewer errors made the difference, while the Philippines relied heavily on Bagunas to keep the scoreboard moving.
The World Championship was opened by the hosts, the Philippines, in a match against Tunisia, one of the two African teams in Pool A, alongside the Asian powerhouse Iran. This group is widely regarded as the least attractive and weakest pool of the men’s volleyball championship. Iran stands out as the clear favorite, while Tunisia and Egypt are expected to battle for the second qualifying spot in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, the hosts, the Philippines, showed in their opening game that they significantly lag behind in quality compared to the other teams. With this victory, Tunisia tops Pool A, where Iran and Egypt still need to play their first match. The Philippines face Egypt next, while Tunisia will take on Iran.
Final Score:
Philippines – Tunisia 0–3 (13–25, 17–25, 23–25)
- Top Scorers: Bryan Bagunas (PHI) – 23 pts; Oussama Ben Romdhane (TUN) – 17 pts
The tournament continues across the Philippines until September 28, with 32 teams fighting for the world title.
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