Korea claims AVC Women’s Cup crown

c/o AVC

Korea capped its dominant campaign in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Volleyball Cup with a 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 victory over Chinese Taipei in the gold medal match on Sunday before a roaring full house crowd at Candon City Arena.

Sohwi Kang came up with 14 points, while Hyunsoo Na scored 12 and Yunju Jeong added 11 as world No. 31 Korea completed a morale-boosting run after some heartbreaking results in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

It was a much different match from their energy-sapping five-set showdown in pool play earlier in the week, as Korea came out firing on all cylinders to the delight of the packed 8,000-seat Candon Arena.

“I’m really happy we were able to have this very meaningful and valuable result today,” Kang said, noting that team confidence was low during a trying period recently in the FIVB’s top annual competition VNL.

“We were losing many games in the VNL. We felt the value of the victories in the AVC every time we won,” she added.

Kang, who averaged 14 points per match, was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and the City of Candon headed by Mayor Eric D. Singson.

Three-time champion Vietnam salvaged the bronze medal, getting back at Kazakhstan, 25-17, 25-12, 25-19.

Thi Thanh Thuy Tran had 16 points, Thi Bich Thuy Tran scored 15 and Thi Nuh Quynh Vi delivered 13 points as Vietnam exacted revenge on Kazakhstan, which won their pool play showdown in five sets and ended their run of 23 straight victories in the meet.

Kristina Belova had 10 points, while Zhanna Syroyeshkina and Tatyana Yatskiv had eight points each for Kazakhstan, which placed fourth for the second straight time.

Indonesia defeated Australia in the battle for fifth place, 25-13, 25-19, 26-24.

Iran denied host Philippines a solid finish, scoring a 25-21, 25-12, 25-21 victory in the battle for seventh.

Philippines unveils seven-year program in partnership with FIVB, announced as host for 2029 Women's World Championships

c/o FIVB, Volleyball World, and the PNVF

Before the final of the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship commenced, a special announcement took place at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, and Brazilian volleyball icon Leila Barros shared to the fans present that the Philippines is set to host the 2029 edition of the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship.

Azevedo tells the crowd, "Thank you very much for your warm welcome. Thank you for hosting the best world championships ever." Before adding, "But now. when you’re thinking that we’re going to the end, we have an amazing surprise …. Philippines are you ready?"

Barros then says in her native Portuguese, "Congratulations Philippines! You are hosting the 2029 FIVB Women’s World Championships!" The volleyball icon and now senator back home concludes, "Mahal ko kayo!"

The announcement completes the schedule of the World Championships in the next two editions.

2027 sees Poland (men) and the United States and Canada (women) as hosts, with Qatar previously announced as the host for the 2029 edition for the men.

In a subsequently statement, Azevedo notes, "Hosting the Volleyball Women’s World Championship 2029 in the Philippines is an opportunity to again showcase not only the very best of volleyball but also the positive impact our sport has on society."

The Women's World Championship is set to be the centerpiece of a seven-year volleyball development program unveiled by the Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio, positioning the country as a rising global hub for the sport. He made the presentation to key FIVB and Volleyball World officials, including Azevedo, VW CEO Ugo Valensi, and Ramon Suzara, who not only is the head of both the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and the Asian Volleyball Confederation, but also is a FIVB Executive Vice President. 

Also present for the presentation are all five of FIVB's continental confederation presidents, as well as the 24-member FIVB Board of Administration, and PNVF Secretary-General Don Caringal. 

Gregorio says about this new partnership, "This long-term partnership with FIVB and Volleyball World—a transformative empowerment program for our athletes first, and a bold push for sports tourism toward economic growth second—will not only allow our country to be at the heart of volleyball’s global growth; it will set a historic blueprint for Philippine sports development overall."

Building on the success of the Men's World Championship, the PSC sees a transformative opportunity in the world of Philippine volleyball, combining elite athlete development with sports tourism, with the latter being aligned to the national tourism agenda as it tries to attract fans worldwide to come visit the country.

The program also includes other aspects like sports education and infrastructure, broadcast production, global marketing integration, imapct studies, and ticket consultancy, with the aspiration of getting both its indoor and beach teams berths in the 2032 Olympics.

Suzara adds, "We are determined to carry forward the momentum of the World Championship 2025 and channel it into something lasting for our athletes, our fans and our nation. It is also an honor to see the sport that I love contribute meaningfully to my nation’s sports and tourism agenda."

From VW's perspective, Valensi says, "Building on the success of the Men’s World Championship here in 2025, we know the Philippines offers the perfect stage to inspire the next generation and connect communities across the country and the region."

Azevedo adds, "This is a landmark program and our boldest one yet, but we are absolutely committed, because we believe in the potential of the Philippines, and we could not ask for a better partner in our mission to transform the world through sport. Let us create history together for volleyball in Asia."

To prepare for the hosting, Gregorio shares, "We will form a consortium with private sectors and organizations to lead and sustain this project, to create even more opportunities for our athletes and fans to be part of something truly special." He also stresses that this move will not just be a government-led initiative.

He concludes, "We will pursue this passionately, with much gratitude to the FIVB, Volleyball World and the entire Global Volleyball Movement for their friendship and support."

Aside from the World Championships, it is expected that the Philippines will serve as a future host for legs in both the Volleyball National League and the Beach Volleyball Pro Tour, and likely hosting the 2023 AVC Continental Championships that would serve as the Qualifier for the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.

Asian Volleyball headquarters opened in Bangkok

AVC and PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara (center) and PSC chairman Patrick “Patò” Gregorio (second from left) lead the toast with (from left) Thailand Volleyball Association president Somporn Chaibangyang and National Olympic Committee of Thailand secretary-general Thana Chaiprasit and FIVB president Fabio Azevedo. Photo shared from the PNVF.

With the eyes of the world of volleyball gazed towards Southeast Asia, the Asian Volleyball Confederation inaugurated its new headquarters in Bangkok on Friday.

In presenting its new home, called the Asian Volleyball (AVC) House, AVC president Ramon Suzara says, "This is the home of Asia volleyball now and it easy for us to work around here with the success of volleyball in Southeast Asia."

He adds, "All volleyball stakeholders are welcome especially in Asia, volleyball fans ,too, universities and club teams, and of course we are open to many sports stakeholders."

The facility is a two-storey mansion within a 2,800-square meter lot in the Khet Saphan Sung district of the Thai capital. 

With the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship entering its final couple of days, many of the who's who in the sport were present for the special occasion, led by the last two presidents of the FIVB, incumbent Fabio Azevedo, and predecessor Ary Graça. Suzara's predecessor at the AVC, Rita Subowo, was also there. Joining them in leading the toast are top Thai officials in Thailand Volleyball Association president Somporn Chaibangyang, as well as Thailand NOC secretary-general Thana Chaiprasit.

Azevedo shares, "I’m extremely happy and proud of our volleyball leadership in Asia led by president Ramon Suzara, the volleyball Asia house is magnificent and amazing... What a great place to be the hub of volleyball in Asia and we are moving ‘together as one’ as what’ president Suzara said."

Aside from Suzara, leading the Filipino delegation at the event are PNVF secretary-general Donaldo Caringal, with Candon City mayor Eric Singson and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio gracing the proceedings also. The Ilocos Sur city has launched a bid for the AVC Women's Cup, which takes place next year.

The Women's Championship is already in their semifinal phase, with Turkiye, Italy, Japan, and Brazil tangling on Saturday afternoon, with the medal matches coming the next day.

As for the Men's Championship, it is set to commence next week, September 12, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, featuring hosts Philippines and Tunisia as the opening matchup. Tickets for the tournament are still available at https://www.philippineswch2025.com.