Czechs end long search for Last 8 return

MANILA, Philippines — Czechia ended a long, painful wait to claim a historic quarterfinal seat in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship with a 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 victory over Tunisia yesterday at the MOA Arena.

That set the two-time European League champion against either Serbia or Asia’s lone Round-of-16 qualifier Iran tomorrow.

Also in the quarterfinals are Italy, Belgium, Poland, Turkiye, Bulgaria and the United States.

Serbia and Iran were contesting the last ticket to the quarterfinals last night.

Whatever happens, Czechia will end up with its best ever finish, surpassing its 10th-place finish in Italy 15 years ago.

The Czechs used to be a world power in the sport, being a two-time world champion and an Olympic silver and bronze winner.

Its last medal in Worlds came in 1966 – a gold – as host while its last quarters appearance was in 1986 in France.

But nothing beats this one as Czechia can call it its own.

“This is a historic moment,” said Czechia’s opposite spiker Patrik Indra, who led the way with 13 points including that match-clinching bazooka spike.

“It was a long time for sure. The Czech Republic is waiting for some bigger success and already now we’re writing history because 1986, it was not Czech but it was Czechoslovakia.”

“Now as the Czech Republic, it was our best finish so we will try to extend this amazing moment,” he added.

“We didn’t start good in the third set but we came back with good effort,” said Indra.