The North American squad delivered a stunning straight-set victory over the mighty Asian team in the Philippines.
Pool G of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship in the Philippines concluded with a major surprise: tournament favorites Japan have been eliminated after the preliminary stage. Canada and Türkiye will now progress to the eighth-finals. On Monday in Quezon City, Canada secured their advancement by handing Japan a second consecutive straight-set loss. Earlier, Türkiye also clinched their second victory by defeating Libya.
Canada dominated Japan with a decisive 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-22) sweep, showcasing superior play with 10 kill blocks compared to Japan`s two, and 40 attack kills versus 33. This significant win not only earned Canada 16.32 ranking points from Japan but also elevated them to eighth in the FIVB World Ranking, placing them directly behind Japan, who retained their seventh spot despite the loss.
Sharone Vernon-Evans, also known as `Sho`, was the standout performer for Canada, scoring a game-high 14 points. His pivotal block-out hit sealed the match and ignited celebrations for the Canadian squad. Vernon-Evans achieved an impressive 52% attack efficiency, contributing one ace and one kill block. Captain Nicholas Hoag, an outside hitter, also played a crucial role, tallying 13 points with one ace and 12 spike kills at a 60% success rate.
“We are absolutely thrilled. Reaching the playoffs is a massive achievement. That was our clear objective, and we understood this match presented a genuine chance to achieve it, so I’m incredibly pleased. The team`s fighting spirit was palpable from the moment we arrived; we were completely focused and never eased up. It’s incredible!” Sho told VBTV. “We will all be prepared to challenge Turkey for the top spot in the pool.”
Despite the loss, Japan demonstrated stronger serving, recording seven aces compared to Canada`s three. Outside hitter Ran Takahashi and opposite Kento Miyaura each contributed two aces and reached double-digit scores with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The remaining three aces for Japan came from their star outside hitter and captain, Yuki Ishikawa.
The final two matches in Pool G are scheduled for Wednesday, September 17. Canada and Türkiye will compete for first place in the group, while Japan and Libya will face off, with Japan seeking their inaugural win and third-place finish.
Oliver Wrenwick 
Jasper Thornfield