BELGIUM clashes with defending Italy today in a high-stakes battle for a semifinal slot in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, a match that is expected to electrify the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Belgium, playing its first quarterfinal match in the World Championship after 55 years, is eyeing a major upset, seeking to dethrone Italy at 3:30 p.m.
Momentum is on the side of the Belgians, who scored a 25-23, 25-20, 22-25, 21-25, 15-13 stunner on the Italians in Pool F play last week.
Ferre Reggers, the tournament’s current top scorer with 93 points off 80 kills, nine blocks, and four aces, braces for a different Italian side, which swept gritty Argentina in their round of 16 clash, 25-21, 25-17, 25-21.
“It will be a different game. They started a little bit passive in the first two sets, and we came really aggressively,” said Reggers, who had 20 points in a straight-sets win over Finland.
“Now it will be different because they know that they cannot relax against us. They know that they have to start full, and we’ll do the same. We’ll approach the game in the same way and go all in like we did last time.”
Reggers, 22, who has Sam Deroo on his side in leading Belgium, is eager to continue their dream run in the World Championship.
“I’m really overwhelmed but also really proud. We knew we had a good team but we didn’t know how to measure ourselves against the top teams of the world,” he said. “Now, we’re in the top eight so this proves a lot that we have a bright future. We have to keep working but we will get there. We have some more chances to play at this high level and this will help us grow even more.”
Italy banks on the troika of reigning MVP and Best Setter Simone Giannelli, Yuri Romano, and Alessandro Michieletto as they look to keep their title defense going.
“I think it’s better that [loss] happened in the pool (phase). Yeah, I think we learned a lot from that game and now, we’re stronger and we’re improving during the games, so this is very good,” said Romano, who fired four aces to finish with 14 points in the round of 16.
“We already know that the team is very leveled, so you can lose against every team. We have to be good every match, and that’s it. Every match is very important.”
