Overview
- Italy beat Bulgaria 25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10 in Manila to secure its fifth men’s world crown and second straight under coach Ferdinando De Giorgi.
- Alessandro Michieletto was named tournament MVP, while Yuri Romanò struck five consecutive aces in set two and finished with 22 points as Simone Giannelli and Fabio Balaso earned Dream Team honors.
- De Giorgi logged his 100th victory as Italy coach and now counts five world titles across his playing and coaching career, with Italy closing in on the USSR’s record of six.
- Bulgaria reached its first final in 55 years under Italian coach Gianlorenzo Blengini, led by Aleksandar Nikolov’s 23 points in the championship match.
- The men’s triumph follows Italy’s women winning the world title earlier in September, with the champions due back in Rome on Monday night and a Quirinale reception scheduled for 8 October.