Camille Naredo

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volleyball

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) -- Defending champion Italy leads a stacked field in the Philippine leg of the Women&#x27;s Volleyball Nations League (VNL), which starts Wednesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. Also set to join world No. 1 Italy is Japan, the silver medalist in 2024.Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick Gregorio welcomed the teams on Tuesday, along with Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.Among the first to settle in and get to work was Team USA, who went straight to the National Athletic Center inside the PhilSports Complex for weight training and conditioning.Japan will enter with momentum, having compiled a 4-0 win-loss record so far in the competition this year. Italy, three-time champion US and world No. 13 Czechia are at 3-1.Starring skipper Mayu Ishikawa, Yoshino Sato and Yukiko Wada, Japan scored victories over France, Ukraine, Germany and Canada.With Ekaterina Antropova, Merit Adigwe and Loveth Omoruyi leading the way, Italy zoomed past Bulgaria, Netherlands and Turkiye before Brazil ended their run.No. 9 Serbia has managed one win in four matches, while 12th-ranked Dominican Republic is still seeking its first victory of the campaign.World No. 7 USA battles the Dominican Republic in the 12 p.m. match on Wednesday, before Czechia and Italy  clash at 4 p.m. Japan and Serbia face off at 8 p.m.Each team plays 12 matches in the group stage, with the top eight advancing to the finals in Macau.The Philippine leg features Pool 5 in Week 2 of the competition. Other hosts of pool play of the prestigious event are Canada, Brazil, China, Türkiye, Thailand, Serbia, Hong Kong and Japan.Asia has three representatives in the 18-nation field. World No. 6 China enters Week 2 with a 3-1 record, while No. 24 Thailand remains in search of its first victory after four matches.Philippine fans get to see the Women&#x27;s VNL live for the first time in four years, while men&#x27;s matches were last hosted by the country two years ago. -- with a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News<div> </div><div> </div>

Defending champion Italy leads a stacked field in the Philippine leg of the Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL), which starts Wednesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Defending champion Italy leads a stacked field in the Philippine leg of the Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL), which starts Wednesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Reigning champ Italy heads stacked field in Philippine leg of VNL

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Reigning champ Italy heads stacked field in Philippine leg of VNL

ABS-CBN News

Published June 16, 2026 03:55 PM PHT

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Updated June 16, 2026 05:37 PM PHT

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