FIVB Worlds: Tara - less Tunisia vs Alas Pilipinas in the opener

AFRICAN powerhouse Tunisia, Alas Pilipinas’ opening-day rival in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025, will be without its star player Wassim Ben Tara but still boasts a formidable squad ready to make some noise.

Tara, the team’s leading scorer in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is not in the official roster announced by Tunisia this month due to prior commitments but other veteran aces in Hamza Nagga and Elyes Karamosli are on the board for the world meet set for September 12 to 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena.

Nagga, a 6-foot-2 opposite spiker, and 6-foot-4 outside hitter Karamosli backstopped Tara in their 2021 African Men’s Volleyball Championship to extend their record as the most successful African nation with 11 titles.

Tunisia has since tapped a new coach in Camillo Placi from Italy, a veteran tactician who had served as deputy for Russia when it won the bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Placi will be up against compatriot Angiolino Frigoni of Alas Pilipinas.

The Philippines-Tunisia Pool A match kicks off the world championships at 6 p.m. on September 12 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, after which a first in FIVB, a glamorous opening ceremony, will follow featuring the K-pop group BOYNEXTDOOR and Karencitta.

Tunisia fell short in defending its African title in 2023 with a fifth-place finish but remained consistent in international competitions to stay in the Top 50 of the FIVB men’s volleyball rankings.

Currently at No. 42, Tunisia is the 11th-best ranked country among those who did not qualify outright for the 32-team world joust in Manila, the biggest FIVB edition in history organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara

Tunisia placed 16th in the 2022 World Championship hosted by Slovenia and Poland, and is expected to be eager to perform better in front of the ever-passionate Filipino fans, especially with No. 23 Egypt in Pool A along with No. 13 Iran and No. 82 Philippines.

Egypt topped the African championship in 2023, ending Tunisia’s run of three titles.

Tunisia opened its training camp in May, ensuring a full four-month preparation for the world volleyball event also backed by PNVF Official Partners PLDT, Mwell, Meralco, ⁠Rebisco, Akari, Nuvali, PNVF official suppliers Asics, Senoh, official ball ⁠Mikasa, official television partner Cignal, Honda, BMW, and supported by the PSC and POC.

Tunisia will serve as the first hurdle for home team Alas on Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena after an explosive opening ceremony to be headlined by K-POP group BOYNEXTDOOR.

Tickets are available via the official website https://www.philippineswch2025.com/ DANNY SIMON

Tara photo from CAVB Facebook