Camille Naredo

Italian setter Simone Giannelli. Handout/Volleyball World

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FIVB

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1759121149579zhxnjun3hld1wqldlo2r.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Italian setter Simone Giannelli. Handout/Volleyball WorldItalian setter Simone Giannelli. Handout/Volleyball World"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Italian setter Simone Giannelli. <em>Handout/Volleyball World</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Two-time FIVB Men&#x27;s World Championship winner and best setter Simone Giannelli is proud to be part of the team that made history for Italian volleyball. </p><p>Italy had fulfilled its goal when it came to the Philippines for the global showcase -- winning back-to-back crowns in the FIVB Men&#x27;s World Championship. They took care of business on Sunday night against a youthful Bulgaria squad, winning in four sets to retain their crown.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/9/28/italy-blasts-youth-laden-bulgaria-in-manila-for-world-championship-crown-2029">READ: Experience prevails as Italy blasts youth-laden Bulgaria in Manila for World Championship crown</a></div><p>&quot;It&#x27;s amazing to be here. And we are the second time. This gold medal is something great, something that I never imagined in my life. So I am very grateful to have the possibility to play here, play with my teammates, and to enjoy the court,&quot; Giannelli told reporters after the awarding ceremony. </p><p>&quot;So I am very happy. I think that we wrote the history today because back-to-back champion is something that doesn&#x27;t happen a lot of time,&quot; he added.</p><p>Aside from winning back-to-back titles, Giannelli also won best setter twice in a row. </p><p>&quot;I try to push me on the limits every day in my life. And I want to stay at the high level much more possible, much, much more time possible. So it&#x27;s difficult. It&#x27;s difficult up and down, but I want to be there. I don&#x27;t want to give up. Never. If I have power in my legs, in my arms, in my shoulder, in my mind, in my heart, I want to keep pushing. And this is my goal,&quot; he said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>TEAM ITALY IS FAMILY </strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz86TOfDIfqXIe&amp;cid=ABjlb9owfqjkeFpK"></script><p>Giannelli stepped on the gold medal stage wearing the jersey of his teammate, Daniela Lavia, who missed the tournament after suffering a hand injury.</p><p>&quot;For us, it&#x27;s for me, especially, but for us, it&#x27;s hard a lot because Daniele had to serve to be here with us, to win this gold medal with us. But this is life. Also, Giovanni Sanguinetti, he was with us until the beginning of this World Champs,&quot; he explained. </p><p>&quot;So we are a family. And they were not here physically, but they were here with us in our heart, in our mind, and they were present every day with us. So they, it&#x27;s a part of the group,&quot; Giannelli shared. </p><p>The 29-year-old was all praises for his teammate, Alessandro Michieletto, who took home the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at FIVB Worlds. </p><p>&quot;He deserves it. He&#x27;s amazing. I think the best player in the world is amazing. He can do everything, everything... I am very happy to play with him because he&#x27;s an amazing player,&quot; Giannelli said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>WHAT&#x27;S NEXT FOR SIMONE? </strong></div><p>The Italian volleyball star says there&#x27;s still a lot he wants to achieve in his career. </p><p>&quot;I think we did a great job. We wrote history for our country, what we did in these four years. I think sport is sport. It&#x27;s great. You start from zero every time. This is great and this is a difficult thing. But this is sports. I want to take his as a challenge,&quot; Giannelli said. </p><p>Now that it&#x27;s mission accomplished for Team Italy, Giannelli is looking forward to going back to Italy to spend time with family and celebrate the win. </p><p>But after the much-needed break, Giannelli said he&#x27;ll go back to the drawing board and get back on the court to improve his game. </p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m still 29 [years old] and I want to give something more,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Two-time FIVB Men's World Championship winner and best setter Simone Giannelli is proud to be part of the team that made history for Italian volleyball.</p>

Two-time FIVB Men's World Championship winner and best setter Simone Giannelli is proud to be part of the team that made history for Italian volleyball.

Simone Giannelli proud to make history for Italy at FIVB Worlds

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Simone Giannelli proud to make history for Italy at FIVB Worlds

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 29, 2025 02:07 PM PHT

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