News Article
The 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship concluded dramatically on Sunday as the formidable Italian side, Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA, clinched the title—their third victory in three tournament appearances. The reigning CEV Champions League Volley winners faced Japanese standouts Osaka Bluteon in the final at the Mangueirinho Arena in Belém. Completing a flawless campaign, Perugia secured a decisive 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-21, 29-27) to reclaim the top spot on the podium.
This victory by the `Block Devils` capped off a stunning year for European volleyball, marking a complete sweep of all major global titles in 2025. This historic achievement followed Italy`s national teams securing double gold at the FIVB Men’s and Women’s World Championships, Swedish and Latvian duos dominating the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, Australia, and Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI triumphing earlier this month at the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship, also held in Brazil.
Perugia’s Undefeated Dynasty
As winners of the 2022 and 2023 editions of the FIVB Men’s Club World Championship, PERUGIA reclaimed the world title after a one-year hiatus. With this win, Perugia joins an elite group—only the third men’s team globally—to secure three or more world titles, standing alongside five-time champions TRENTINO Itas (Italy) and Sada Cruzeiro (Brazil). Notably, all three of Perugia`s titles were won through undefeated campaigns, dropping only two sets along the way this year (against Osaka during pool play).
Six core players have participated in all three world titles won by PERUGIA: setter Simone Giannelli, outside hitters Kamil Semeniuk and Oleh Plotnytskyi, middle blockers Roberto Russo and Sebastián Solé, and libero Massimo Colaci.
Final Match Highlights
In the final match, Tunisian opposite Wassim Ben Tara, now a two-time world champion, was the standout performer for the ‘Block Devils’ with 16 points (14 kills, two blocks). Kamil Semeniuk also reached double digits, finishing the match with 13 points (12 kills, one ace).
For Osaka Bluteon, team captain and star opposite Yuji Nishida led the offense with 14 points, all obtained in kills. Middle blocker Larry Evbade-Dan and Cuban outside hitter Miguel Ángel López Castro contributed ten points each.
Making only their second appearance in the Club World Championship, Osaka made history by becoming the first Japanese team ever to reach the final. They had previously finished fifth in their debut appearance in 2013 (as Panasonic Panthers).
Giannelli Repeats as MVP
Mirroring his success from 2022, team captain Simone Giannelli earned the tournament’s MVP award, in addition to being named Best Setter. The Olympic silver medalist and world champion was featured in the Club World Championship Dream Team, which included two other teammates, three players from runners-up Osaka, and one player from third-placed Aluron CMC Warta ZAWIERCIE of Poland. The inclusion of the `Jurassic Knights` ensured that two out of three medals went to European teams.
FIVB Men’s Club World Championship Dream Team
- MVP: Simone Giannelli (Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA)
- Best Setter: Simone Giannelli (Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA)
- Best Opposite: Wassim Ben Tara (Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA)
- Best Outside Hitters: Miguel Ángel López Castro (Osaka Bluteon) and Aaron Russell (Aluron CMC Warta ZAWIERCIE)
- Best Middle Blockers: Agustín Loser (Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA) and Sebastián Solé (Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA)
- Best Libero: Tomohiro Yamamoto (Osaka Bluteon)
Finley Blackwood