VNL 2025

Japan beat Olympic champs to get back on winning track

Kento Miyaura against Trevor Clevenot in spectacular duel

Published 03:21, 26 Jun 2025

France (FRA) vs. Japan (JPN) men - Pool 4 - Preliminary Phase #48484483

Triumphant Kento Miyaura

In a spectacular five-set rollercoaster with shining stellar presence from Kento Miyaura and Trevor Clevenot, Japan outlasted France in Burgas to get the men’s Volleyball Nations League competition day going on Thursday. The Asian team moved up to fourth place in the current VNL standings on a 4-2 win-loss record and 11 points, while the defending VNL champions and reigning Olympic champions stand sixth on 3-3 and 9.

Watch the Volleyball Nations League on VBTV

After the straight-set upset they suffered at the hands of hosts Bulgaria in their week opener in Burgas on Wednesday, Japan got back on the winning track with a 3-2 (25-22, 19-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-11) victory at the Black Sea coast on Thursday.

Their opposite Kento Miyaura impressed with four of his team’s nine serving aces, including the one that brought in the match winning point in the tie-breaker. He also hit 18 points in attack at a 51% success rate and put away a kill block to lead Japan on a total of 23 points. Outside hitter Tatsunori Otsuka also reached the double digits with 10 points, while swinging at 75% success rate. However, a solid chunk of the Asian side’s points (35) came from unforced errors committed by France.

“We knew that today’s match would be very difficult, so I am very, very happy to win it!” Miyaura told VBTV after the game. “Yesterday we were waiting for the opponents, but today we changed our mindset and tried to push more on our side.”

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France’s Olympic gold medalist Trevor Clevenot also continued to show what a great shape he is in. He spearheaded his team with a match-high 24 points, including one block. He registered a 59% success rate in attack. Another Olympic champion, opposite Theo Faure, added 19 points, including two aces and two blocks. France’s two middle blockers – Francois Huetz and Mousse Gueye – authored eight of the team’s 11 stuffs combined and also reached the double digits with 14 and 11 points, respectively. Among the other Paris 2024 Olympians, setter and captain Antoine Brizard came in as a sub during the first two sets and was among the starters for the tie-breaker, outside Yacine Louati appeared on the court during the last three sets, while Jean Patry and Barthelemy Chinenyeze once again did not make their VNL 2025 debut just yet.

“It was a tough match for us. Japan played really well. We started strong and then they came back,” Chinenyeze commented. “We are still working. We have some new players like me that are coming back ready to play some games. The young ones are doing a great job. They are playing some high-level games as it is important for us to keep on working…”

As the competition day continues, the Netherlands and Germany are currently playing over in Belgrade, while the second game in Burgas, between Turkiye and Ukraine, is about to serve off at 18:30 local time (15:30 UTC). Later on Thursday, Serbia will entertain Cuba in their capital, while the program in Chicago offers matches between Brazil and China and between Canada and USA.