The Art of Defense by the Japanese Volleyball Team !!!

Productive isn't it? You've got to go for it, but if you do go for it, you risk losing more. That's a good swing, but Rantak Ashton somehow gets there. That's brilliant spirit in defense and then Ishikawa puts it away. And Abdulmanek, who has just come on as libero, is left thinking how did they do that? Look at this, what a dig that was, what a recovery move straight away. And while he's off court scrubbing to pick himself up, Ishikawa on the other side is just putting it away. And there's such a gulf. Japan have played the VNL, they played the Olympics, they played the VNL in 2025. More than 30 matches. And that's kind of what we talk about often is that that consistent high level play, you cannot replicate that in training as much as you can get you guys out there playing six on six just. He's big, he's strong, very good server as well. And that's somehow, how did he get that over? What a dig by Ishikawa. Has he screwed that through? He's got it across away from the block, but it's gone out. Now that's a stuffed block, I'm giving that point to... First ace of the tournament for her, and a good ball in as well. Hesden got lots of space there, Yamamoto covers it though. Canada very close to one another here. Japan just look a little bit slow off the mark. Usually in a free ball situation like that, Japan just spring into life. Yeah, but the crowd and the pitch of their screaming is every play is for a world champion. A lot of errors, especially in the serve. That's another great serve. Some dig by Mohamed Akberi, and that's a big swing. Aido is there. Mayura just has to push it over. Another switch of play. Oh, what a good block. That's just what Japan need. The monster block, the middle block, which has been largely toothless, it's fair to say. Blockless really. Pointless for the first two matches now. They've started with purpose. With Japan not a team, typically no. With the top spinner, Yuksel Lagumja. Well played, Ron. He was off balance. Miyaura straight into the block, but what defense. Free ball though. Yenny Pazar. Popped off the head. What a set from Moyar as well, but now the opportunity is taken. Mandarace from back court. Well, Turkey was adamantly looking for four contacts called against Japan, but it didn't matter because they've got number nine on their side. Mandarace out of the back row one-on-one. The team need to make him earn it. Good touch by Hogue and Shimak. Great chase Tatsunori. Miyaura is going to make Canada earn it. Curry into her. All options open. And Vernon Evans is the best of all the options. Just heavy, heavy heat. Nice defensive play here by Japan. A little undersized, but they are disciplined. A bit of confusion there with the defense. Mohamed Iqbali. Nice dig by Aram Takahashi. And Imuri comes through. And what's going to happen here? Well, that's just gone as a free ball. A quick chance now. Can they take advantage? Brilliant by Takahashi in the defense. Chance once more. Libya take it. Al-Wadani middle blocker. Tall, powerful, saw the spot. I don't know if we'll get another chance to see it, but there was midway through that rally some questions about net touches. Too far off the net, exactly what Kubogazi was worrying about. That's a bit more like it. And there's their top scorer, but it hasn't gone over. And that's not gone down either. Wonderful defense. Ishikawa then completes it. And Libya just coming again and again, but Japan just saying, yeah, is that your best shot? And then claiming the point. And was that Abu Zarifa that had a big swing at it? And he's the setter. So he's gone up, looking as if he's going to set, takes a rip. I mean, that's the kind of... Aram Takahashi goes for the jump float and that's not the pass they can't cut through. The block is waiting. Ishikawa one-on-one, but a great dig. Miura, and here he comes once more. And he puts it away. That was very impressive. This is more like Japan. And they're five points clear. Defense. And look at the long distance set as well. All the players... And 18-14. A great serve to put Japan out of system again. Could it be a five-point lead? Oh, luck. Luck is on their side. Larry thought he had him. Ishikawa, good recycle. Larry again in a setter. Oya, no way through for Japan. Heslinger. Oh, he's found the line. Canada out Japan. And Japan is wild. Just when you think that they get a block on the middle, it comes up. This is going to be some game and some tournament for them as well. Well played. Back court. Pumped up. And this is the emotion that we always see from Japan. Well, something finally, a play goes their way, right? The ball's getting batted around. And that's what they're doing at the moment. Turning the screw. 29 in this third set. Looking to sweep. The bronze medalist from the African Championship. And again, a brilliant dig by Ran Takahashi. They're not complacent at all. They're looking to finish in style. Abdul Malik tried to get there. Gerwash got his hands there, but the ball disappeared. Stage left. And Japan will have that point. These are the points you can't afford to give up on. That's exactly as you called it. Japan are laying out like as if every single point. That's not a good pass off the hands, but Japan in control once more. I say in control is an understatement of how Japan are playing right now. They are loose. They are relaxed. They're taking care of the simple things like they typically do. And they just make it look so easy. But if you get that first contact wrong, particularly. Deora just gets his hand to it. Very close to the net. Joust. And here comes the setter on his own. Going deep, but no. Abuzariba doesn't make it down. And there's frustration at the net because it's another point that Japan pick up. I was so excited to see Abuzariba get set there. I mean, it ends up being another point for Larry, who's been phenomenal tonight. But I think they have to remember how good this Japanese team is. It's the same thing when Nedlin was facing Poland and Joel Banks said, hey, this is still a world ranked team, guys. If we're not beating them, it's fine if we're playing all right. Mala could see where he wanted to get to, but he's 42 years old. If you're Miura or maybe Ogwa, Japanese libero just fling himself. That might have been different. And remember, instead lost the first set and already Japan are in charge of set two, not causing any major danger. Here's Miura. That was going out, but we're playing on. Let's see what Ishikawa can do. Lovely tip. Oh, well played. Ahul waiting and hanging and just touching it down. That's a good response from Ahul, especially on that slower ball, just recognizing it's going to be tipped. However.