Oct 5, 2025
THIS IS THE CRAZIEST Match in Japan Volleyball History !!! The first week of the qualifying round of the Volleyball Nations League 2024 (VNL) Brazil tournament is being held in Rio de Janeiro, and the Japanese men's volleyball team is participating.
On Saturday, May 25th (Japan time), the Japanese men's national team, ranked 3rd in the FIVB world rankings (at the time of the end of the match), faced Cuba, ranked 9th, and won in full sets 3-2 (18-25, 25-22, 25-23, 19-25, 22-20), marking their third consecutive win since the start of the tournament.
From the beginning of the first set, Japan struggled against Cuba's high wall, but they persevered by covering with blocks. Even though Cuba was ahead, they kept their rhythm and waited for a break chance. However, they were attacked by the opponent's powerful serves, making the score 10-12. Furthermore, a counter attack from Cuba's good defense made the score 12-15, and the score difference gradually widened. Japan also hit strong serves in an attempt to get a break point, but could not score. They struggled against Cuba's serves in the final stages, and lost the first set 18-25.
In the second set, Japan, wanting to break the bad streak, took an 11-6 lead with a block from Kentaro Takahashi and a service ace from Masama Tomita, and took control of the game. Cuba showed tenacity and was caught up to the score, so Japan brought on Yuji Nishida. Nishida lived up to expectations with three consecutive service aces to make it 21-19, and Japan continued to take the set 25-22.
In the third set, Tatsunori Otsuka was sent onto the court from the start. Cuba was in control from the beginning, and there were times when they were leading by a large margin of 7-13, but Japan showed tenacity with spikes from Otsuka and Kento Miyaura, and they tied the score at 18-18. When Seita Sekita used effective quick shots to break down Cuba's block, Japan regained their rhythm and won the set 25-23.
Japan wanted to continue their momentum and take the lead in the fourth set, but they struggled with Cuba's tall attacks and blocks, falling behind 8-14. Nishida was substituted for Miyaura, but Cuba's momentum was unstoppable, and Japan lost the set 19-25.
In the final fifth set, Cuba had a match point at 11-14, but Kai Yuto, who was selected from the start of the set, attacked with his serve, and Onodera Futoshi made a block to tie the score at 14-14. Both teams made side-outs, and Nishida finally made a spike to win the match 22-20. They extended their winning streak to three.
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Here's the back row attack from Maso, Doug Yamamoto sends it up. Nishida all he can do is bump it over.
Cuba should be able to take this chance. Yes! Big opportunity. Maso gets his number called,
goes high off of Kitaro's hands. Next point will give us the side switch here in this fifth set.
Left hand serve from Tundeke. Seketa sets it up. Back row for Kai. Does he miss? Yes he does.
And we'll switch sides with Cuba up a point. Did I see a smile on Coach Cruz's face?
The half a smile? Hard to tell from up here in the rafters but Italy enjoying this one from the
inline. You don't want to miss that one coming up later. It'll be Italy against Iran. Here on VBTV
all your friends. It's a race to 15 here in this fifth set. Cuba has the edge. Service at
Matsuoka. Japan couldn't finish. Cuba couldn't finish. Yamamoto bump set Matsuoka. What a dig
from Lopez. Garcia keeps it up. Pushed over by Yant. Oh pancake dig Yamamoto. Here's Nishida.
Oh he gets it. Unbelievable volleyball being played here in set five.
Bodies flying everywhere. Tundeke staying on his side of the court.
Diving one-handed. Stabbed by Lopez but the free ball over the pancake from Yamamoto.
And then Nishida finishing it. And he didn't celebrate at all Matt. Nothing.
8-8. Good pass. Oh Yant had to kind of back up to take that.
Then he gets a block with some help. Here comes another chance for Nishida. He's shut down.
Wow another block that gets covered. Leads to a block point for Cuba. Yamamoto is everywhere.
It's Maso getting that one. Let's not forget Maso is really a middle blocker. So you had two middle
blockers. That should be a good rotation. That's an ace for Yant. Yant gets one back
after giving up some aces in set four. Serves one up that catches the end line right.
Oh it's another good serve but Yamamoto's got it. Here's Kai. He's blocked. Recycled by Japan. Kai
again. And this time he tools it off the block. Point Japan. How does he find a way through on
that swing? It's between Concepcion's arms and out of bounds for the point. Nine serving ten now.
Quintero. Oh Yant hears it from his teammates out and he just does a little matrix.
Robert Landy-Simone back in the game. Libero out for a moment.
Now Gurejo in to serve now. I don't know if he's going to stay in. No he'll be replaced now by the
Roman Garcia. That means it's Nishida's turn in the end line.
The house holds its breath. Good pass Yant.
Oh but Lopez got a little greedy and we're all tied at once. Elevens that is.
Lopez wanted that one at the extreme angle. Yant puts up a great pass.
Doesn't have to go that sharp of an angle from Lopez. He knows it too. No sweeps today. Here's
Nishida. Again Yant with another solid pass. And then Simone taps it down. Point Cuba.
Right place at the right time for Robert Landy-Simone.
Tries the angle again and then good vision there by the big man to just throw it down.
Like swatting flies. Here's Maso. Good serve for the team in red from Cuba.
What a play. Watch Robert Landy-Simone in the middle here. Actually does a little juke move
and catches Siketa and goes back up on that second chance. Gets that block with the help
of Tondiki as well. Come off the bench to play really well. Good serve. Kai's got it up. It's
trouble. It's gonna be a free ball. A chance for Cuba to get match point. Taken. Maso. The start
of the play and the end of the play. Puts in a great serve at Kai. Siketa on his horse to save
it. But a free ball over. Tondiki knows who the hot hand is. He goes back to him. Maso has come
off the bench here to now score 10 points. None bigger than that last one to give his team match
point. And here we go. They've got three of them to work with. And that just misses. Japan watches it.
Substitutions. Out of the game for Japan to meet at point and match point for Cuba.
Tondiki gets the set. Lopez. No. There's no touch. Lopez wants to ask for a challenge.
Good up from Yant. Here's Simone's block. And the plot thickens. 14-all.
What a read by Japan's blockers. What a move. Onodera shutting it down and we are tied at 14-all,
Rob. Cuba's used its timeouts. None left here. 14-14. Here's Lopez. And that will give Cuba
match point again. Their fourth. Sekita comes back on for Japan. Leading scorer in the match
with 23 points. Has the ball in his hands to serve. Here's Lopez. It's a good one. Almost an overpass.
But we're tied again. You had to assume there was only one person Sekita would set
with the match on the line. It's Nishida. He comes through.
Goes aggressive at the hands of Marlon Yant. Scoring another point. This is interesting.
His first action of the match. The captain Yamauchi comes into the game.
But he is going to come in to serve the middle blocker.
There he is. Yamauchi. Sekita in the front row for Japan. Marlon Yant on the left front position.
Overhand pass from Lopez. Here's Yant. Match point again. Cuba.
Japan moved their blockers around. Sekita stayed on the left side.
The blockers putting the bigger blockers up.
It was actually Kentaro blocking on the pin but now match point once again.
Yamauchi now coming back out of the game for Onodera who will make way for the libero
Yamamoto. Now Simon. He got blocked a minute ago. What has he got here from the baseline?
Play this. He's got 14 points in the game including an ace.
Not sure what the delay is but the referee blows it in. Sixth match point for Cuba.
Oh Simon. And that gets Japan out of a jam. No longer they have their small
setter in the front row. Sekita will serve and set from the back. 16-16.
Yant cross court. What a shot. Marlon Yant unleashing something extra on that one.
Tsuka had no time to react to him. What a swing by number 23. 110 kilometers an hour. Here
is the serve from the setter Tundiki. Through the middle. Tied again. Perfect pass.
Quick set in system. Kentaro wrist away and we're tied again. Now where?
Lopez handles it. And Yant is the one with the hot hand now and it's another set point
Cuba. This is either six or seven. Good ball in. One on one for Yant. Sees the open into the angle
and finds the floor. Marlon Yant serve is a good one. Yamamoto handles it. Sekita sets up Kai and
drills it cross court. We're tied again. Big moments here for some of these younger outside
hitters for Japan in big moments. Kai taking a huge swing at that one and finding the seam through
the block. 18-18 in set number five. Tundiki to the middle. Concepcion. Well Cuba being able to
respond nicely on every side out. This time Concepcion going up and wrist away on the 31.
Now he's got the ball in his hands to serve. Trying to end the game. Another match point
for Cuba. And the service error. Guess who's got the ball now? It's Nishida. Look at those service
errors. Here he is. Good up from Lopez. Garcia tracks it down. Maso is it off a touch? No touch.
Japan has its first match point. Maso hadn't taken a swing in a few rallies.
Trying to find the hands. Doesn't realize that it's Sekita
blocking in front of him. Goes up high and hits it out long.
20-19 Nishida serving for the match. Handled by Lopez. Handled by Lopez again and we're tied again.
What a play from the team captain for Cuba delivering
when they needed it the most on that swing there. We're not done yet.
Here's Maso. I guess he had the green light. Now it is match point Japan again. Their second.
Here's Kai. Tundiki sets it across for Lopez. Oh what a one-handed dig. Simone
kept alive. Japan another chance. Onitsuka. Yamamoto keeps it up. Here they come again.
It's down. Japan's. What a finish.
