Osaka, Japan, May 11, 2025 – Host team Osaka Bluteon delighted their home crowd with a commanding straight-sets victory over the Philippines’ Cignal HD Spikers, 25-11, 25-21, 25-21, to secure their first win in Pool B of the inaugural AVC Men’s Champions League at Panasonic Arena on Sunday.
Led by the dynamic Yuji Nishida, who tallied 13 points off 11 attacks, one block, and one ace, Bluteon showcased their firepower and cohesion on the international stage. Shoma Tomita and Cuban import Lopez Castro Miguel Ángel each added 12 points, while Cignal’s main contributor, Marck Jesus Espejo, was limited to 9 points in a difficult outing.
With national team stars Nishida and the towering 204cm middle blocker Akihiro Yamauchi in the lineup, along with the explosive Lopez, Osaka Bluteon came out firing. The home side overwhelmed the visitors with sharp serves, towering blocks, and relentless attacks, cruising to a one-sided first-set win. Cignal HD Spikers struggled to find their footing, with unforced errors hampering any chance of momentum despite efforts from Joshua Umandal and Espejo, who tried to ignite the offense with midcourt attacks.
The second set saw a better response from the Philippine side. Cignal mixed up their offense with promising plays from Rex Intal, Kim Malabunga, and Espejo, taking an early lead and threatening to shift the momentum. But Nishida, showing why he’s one of Japan’s most electrifying talents, responded with high-flying cross-court spikes to keep the hosts in the game. As the set approached its climax, Nishida and Nigerian middle blocker Evbade-Dan Larry Ik turned up the heat, helping Osaka Bluteon rally and seal a comeback win in the second frame.
In the third set, Bluteon once again started strong, quickly establishing control. However, Cignal HD Spikers refused to go quietly. They prolonged rallies with improved defense and sharper attacks, forcing the home team to call a timeout to reset. A brief dip in Osaka’s focus allowed Cignal to narrow the gap, highlighted by an ace from Joshua Umandal and pinpoint hitting from Josafat Lloyd. But the Philippine squad couldn’t sustain the pressure, committing crucial errors in the final stretch. Bluteon capitalized and closed out the set and match with clinical precision, much to the delight of the enthusiastic home crowd.
Osaka Bluteon will next face Shanghai Bright Men’s Volleyball Club on Monday at 19:05 local time. Cignal HD Spikers will wrap up their Pool B campaign against the same Chinese side on Tuesday at 15:05.
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