Overview

• Bulgaria beat the Czech Republic 3–1 in Manila with set scores of 25-20, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, in a semifinal that marked the Czechs’ first as an independent nation.
• Italy swept Poland 25-21, 25-22, 25-23 to return to the title match and keep its championship defense on track.
• The final is scheduled for Sunday at 18:30 local time in Manila, Philippines.
• Aleksandar Nikolov led Bulgaria with 31 points in the semifinal and tops the tournament scoring chart with 150.
• Bulgaria advances to only its second world final and first since 1970, while Italy pursues a fifth crown after titles in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2022.