VNL: Japan stays unbeaten after come-from-behind win over China

July 4, 2023 Times Europe

Japan team in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Manila leg. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.bet

MANILA, Philippines—Japan kept its Volleyball Nations League (VNL) record unblemished after completing a comeback effort over China, 24-26, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12, at Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday.

The Japanese’s unbeaten card was put in jeopardy when China pulled an upset win in the first set, 26-24, but it was anybody’s ballgame from then on.

Surely, Ran Takahashi took note of this and uncorked 12 points to help Ryujin Nippon stay solid at the top spot of the VNL at 9-0.

“Our feeling was kind of down and we were kind of nervous today so we had to find the solution for the first set. In the second set, we changed our minds, said Takahashi.

“Our feelings really changed after that second set.”

Japan’s Yuki Ishikawa in the VNL Manila Leg game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The Chinese held a precarious 2-1 set lead despite Japan’s good showing, forcing the Japanese to go full throttle in the fourth and fifth sets.

With the score knotted at 21 in the penultimate frame, Yuki Ishikawa unloaded a crosscourt kill which sparked a set-ending 4-2 blitz to bag the set, 25-23.

The fifth set, however, was all Japan. From a deadlock at 5-all, the Japanese broke away and went on a match-finishing 5-1 rally.

When China attempted to make a comeback late, Kento Miyaura successfully converted a kill to keep China down in the standings with a 2-7 record.

Ishikawa scored efficiently for Ryujin Nippon with 15 points while Yuji Nishida followed suit with 12 of his own.

Yongzhen Li led the game in points with 16 in a losing effort. Yuantai Yu and Jingyin Zhang registered 14 markers each, but to no avail.