Japan 🇯🇵 vs. Oman 🇴🇲 - Highlights | Asian Continental Championships 2026 | Pool Phase

Japan in the white and black serving, Oman in all red, receiving for this ABC Men's Volleyball Continental here in Fukuoka. First match for these two teams and it's a very nice side-out start. Want to get a good start here, not get bogged down in trading points. That's a really good picker, of course it is. Yamamoto, that's not hit the floor but there'll be a challenge coming if Japan don't win this, they've bookmarked it. Oh, I say, that is some hit. Ishikawa has put that right off the bonds. Just a continuation block play. Solid side-out. Nice tempo as well through the middle. Saude, big guy arrives on time. One on one against Yamamoto. That's lovely, nice and early through the middle. Different spacing as well. Oh, it was going out. Ball in, little pump fake. Saude gets you within one. Done it. Even without a super fast ball out in the direction of Bala. The matchup to play after with Fukutsu in the front row draws that little bit extra pressure. With the serve. Somehow he's found a gap in that block. The way very nicely. Great response in reception as well from Oman. Bala has to get up off the floor, side-out approach. The pass and that's well played. Onodera, very professional. One of the challenges for Oman is to adapt a little bit faster to different servers, different situations. Service sub having effect. Massive block, nowhere to go for Oman at the moment and it's set point now for Japan. Oh, that's reaching and that will be the set for Japan. Set two underway, Oman serving. Japan leading by one set to nothing. Challenge. Oh, it's there, good up for a classic but Onodera. Come again. Got a net touch against Japan, Uchiyama Uchi. Got the ace, he's got another one now to add to his tally. Six-point lead. Good up, Yamamoto. This time Oman ready for the roll shot. Oh yes, you don't get two points for hitting it hard, you just get a point no matter how you do it. And that was done and Oman had the point. Yamamoto Uchi. Hard hit high off the hands, that's definitely got to be the way forward for Oman. Every time they've done that they've caused a few problems. Fukatsu, no recognised setter on court for Japan, but plenty of players with enough skill to move the ball when they want to. That's a lovely hit, hardly any room to the line. There'll be another change coming and on to court for the first time will be Yudai Kawahigashi, number nine. First time for the game, first time for the international. No, big again, ace serve again. Nishikawa's had a look around, he got three ace serves, is it? Okay buddy, right, my go. That's not coming back, another point for Japan. That's going to be four touches and it is Japan now. Monstervon brings up set point now for Japan. It's a good finish though, Onodera puts it down. Away we go with set number three, Japan with the serve, they are leading by two sets, nothing will change through the middle for them. Onodera off and Larry's in. And make their side out. Oman, number 23, Yusuf. Worked very nicely, Oman. Japan know that if their level drops, Oman are in this match. Got to give Oman the ultimate respect by playing their best volleyball. That's really nicely done from Maji. Relaxed volleyball at the moment. Yes, what a block, an absolute monster block from Al Zahadi. Defies physics, his arms are just so straight, it's like where's it all gone? Japan with the serve, just down the block, Nishikawa not able to close it properly. Challenge for Yusuf now is, does he get the right balance? Not sure. Three front row attackers for Oman, plus the pike. That was a little too high, was it? No, it was okay, able to use the block. That's a swing from Ram, great touch from Yamauchi. Oh, it's in, it's landed in, looking for that block out, Oman do really well. Block is really, really good, really, really good. The transition, oh, that's lovely, that also looked like a. Stay in play again, Larry with a good set, Nishida, good up. Oh, what a block, an absolute shutdown and look at the chance for Japan. Yes, that's more like it, big hit from him. Trouble, it's no set point, Oman, they are out. For the set, oh, what a way to get it as well, right through the middle by Osama and Oman are in this match. What makes things interesting, here we go then, set number four, Oman are leading two sets to one. Done by Al-Sadi, block gotta be higher than that, but it's a net touch against Oman, they're not gonna be able to celebrate much longer. So I'm saying I didn't touch you, well, you may have had your seven seconds, might be too late. They can challenge, but that would be their second challenge. Oh, there's two net touches, it wasn't. Big grab of the net, the coach is making his opinion known. Here's a study, I bet Mark Leopardi would like to have a look at, how many times a referee goes for a referee check when the other team have got no challenges left. That is a really, chance for a break point. Taken, now look at this, this is the response from Japan. Swing, point taken, Ishimoto. Touch, Katsu does the little star jump, doesn't he? Ishimoto serves again, might get to that one for Katsu. Skipped it out of the way there, chance here for Oman. Well played, nice touch from Al Makhbali, and again though, and this time the block is too good. Ishimoto, too far away, still in the set, still in the match, but maybe not for much longer. And it's all over, Ishikawa gets the point Japan were looking for. They take the set, 25-0.