Philippines-Japan friendlies set this weekend

MANILA, Philippines — Back-to-back Olympic champion France and world No. 1 Poland lead the 32-nation field for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship (MWCH) with Philippines kicking off a year-to-go countdown with the Alas Pilipinas men and women engaging two top Japanese clubs in a weekend of friendlies at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

“The ball is served!” said Ramon “Tats” Suzara, head of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation on Wednesday fresh from his election as president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation last Friday in Bangkok.

It will be a busy week for the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the MWCH and first on the agenda will be the friendlies at the PhilSports Arena this Saturday pitting the Alas Pilipinas Women against the Saga Hisamitsu Springs at 3 p.m. and the Alas Pilipinas Men against the Osaka Bluteon at 6 p.m.

All four teams return to the court following the same schedule also at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday to conclude the friendlies that precede the much-anticipated draw on Sept. 14 at the Solaire Resort Hotel.

Tickets to the friendlies are available through Ticketmax.ph.

“It’s all systems go for the preparations heading to the world championship that will be marked with year-long activities including a Trophy Tour that would bring the MWCH trophy to key cities in the country,” Suzara said.