QUEZON CITY, Philippines — A Saturday afternoon clash turned into a huge upset as Türkiye swept world No. 5 Japan, 25-19, 25-23, 25-19, in their opening Pool G match of the FIVB Men’s World Championship 2025 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The match was billed as a marquee debut for Asian powerhouse Japan, but it was Türkiye that stole the spotlight. Fueled by explosive serving and fearless attacks, the Turks quickly took control and never let up in front of an electrified Big Dome crowd.
Ramazan Efe Mandiraci led the charge with 15 points, including nine kills, two blocks, and four thunderous aces that shook Japan’s reception line. Teammate Adis Lagumdzija added 14 markers, anchoring the attack with a mix of heavy spikes and clutch blocks that blunted every Japanese rally.
Japan tried to claw back behind Kento Miyaura, who finished with 13 points, but costly errors in the second set proved costly. After dropping the tight 25-23 frame, the Japanese looked rattled, and Türkiye capitalized with a commanding closeout in the third set.
The sweep not only gives Türkiye an early edge in Pool G standings but also sends a clear warning to other contenders in Manila. For Japan, the loss is a wake-up call as it looks to recover quickly in the coming group matches.
As fans roared inside the Araneta Coliseum, one thing became clear: the World Championship has already delivered its first shocker, and Türkiye is here to shake up the tournament.
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