Pasay city: Czechia recovered from a first-set loss to prevail over Iran, 22-25, 27-25, 25-20, 25-21, Thursday and secure a semis berth in the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Czechia will face the winner between USA and Bulgaria for a spot in the finals.
According to Philippines News Agency, opposite Patrik Indra finished with 22 points (20 attacks and two aces) while outside hitter Lukas Vasina had 21 points (19 attacks, one block, and one ace) in leading the Czech side to victory after one hour and 56 minutes. Indra noted the team's resilience, stating, "From the start of the game, we were under big pressure. We were about to lose the second set, too, but the guys from the bench came in and decided that set to keep us alive. We did much better in the third and the fourth sets."
Middle blocker Antonin Klimes contributed eight points (seven attacks and one ace) while outside hitter Jan Galabov and skipper Adam Zajicek scored seven points each. In the fourth set, Indra and Vasina scored seven points each, overcoming a rally by Iran's opposite Ali Hadjipour and outside hitter Hussein Khanzadeh Poriya, who brought the score to 20-23. The Czechs maintained composure to wrap up the match. Poriya scored 18 points (15 attacks and three aces) while Hadjipour also had 18 points (15 attacks and three blocks). Captain Morteza Sharifi added 11 points (nine attacks and two aces), and middle blockers Yousef Kazemi Poshtpan and Mohammad Valizadeh added eight points each.
Meanwhile, Brazilian icon Leila Barros has arrived in the country and will hold a press conference and a meet-and-greet with media and fans on Friday. The 53-year-old Barros, now a senator, will serve as the guest of honor during the tournament's semifinals and finals over the weekend. Barros first visited the country in 2000 for the FIVB World Grand Prix and helped inspire the rise of Philippine volleyball. The opposite spiker won two bronze medals in the 1996 (Atlanta) and 2000 (Sydney) Olympics and four gold medals in the FIVB World Grand Prix. Brazil also secured the bronze medal in the Manila leg of the Grand Prix in 2000.
