Volleyball Nations League resumes play in Philippines

Games Wednesday

(PhilSports Arena)

12 p.m. - Dominican Republic vs USA

4 p.m. - Czechia vs Italy

8 p.m. - Japan vs Serbia

MANILA, Philippines — Six teams, headed by World No. 1 Italy and crowd darling Japan, descend to the country when Week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League 2026 resumes Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The Italians will be battling the Czechs at 4 p.m. Wednesday, hoping to keep their place in the top four after winning three of their four matches in the opening week in Brasilia, Brazil early this month.

Also scheduled for Wednesday are showdowns pitting Japan with Serbia in a marquee match up at 8 p.m., and the United States with Dominican Republic at 12 p.m.

AVC president Ramon Suzara said the Pasig venue was a last-minute replacement for the initial choice of SM Seaside Arena in Cebu, which wasn’t completed in time for this prestigious meet.

But Suzara stressed that the Queen City of the South will have its hosting turn next year since the country will be one of the stops by the VNL women’s in the next three years including this one in Pasig.

Suzara said this was because the country will host the 2029 FIVB Women’s World Championships.

“It’s part of the preparation for the 2029 FIVB Women’s World Championships and it directly supports the development of our women’s national team,” he said.

The Japanese should be a team to watch out for after sweeping their first four outings in Quebec, Canada also early in the month that put them currently in second behind the Brazilians.

It will be clashing against a Serbian side that may play minus superstar Tijana Boskovic, who could be rested in Week 2.