The 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship saw a meeting between two of men’s volleyball’s best setters.
Heading into Italy and Argentina’s Round of 16 match in the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship, avid fans may have set their sights on a potential faceoff between two of the best playmakers in men’s volleyball today.
Over in Italy, there is captain Simone Giannelli, the reigning World Championship Most Valuable Player who is steering Gil Azurri’s title defense. At the other side of the net is La Selecciòn’s Luciano de Cecco, who is in his sixth Men’s World Championship appearance representing Argentina.
On Sunday, September 21, both setters locked horns at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, with Giannelli and Italy getting the last laugh over De Cecco and Argentina. The defending champions knocked out a brave Argentina side after a 25-23, 25-20, 25-22 to book their ticket into the quarterfinals.
After the game, Giannelli tipped his hat off to De Cecco, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest setters of his era.
“I have played a lot of years against him, which is unfortunate for me! But yes, he is an amazing setter, one of the best all time,” Giannelli said as he recalled their past duels in the Italian Volleyball League and during Round 1 of the 2018 Men’s World Championship.
One of the elder statesmen in men’s volleyball, De Cecco has won multiple Best Setter awards at the club level in Italy and through countless international tournaments with La Seleccion that includes their bronze medal finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Against the Azzurri on Sunday, De Cecco went down swinging with 28 excellent sets as he and Argentina tried to topple Italy’s well-oiled machine led by Giannelli’s impressive 34 excellent sets.
“So now he was amazing, and it is very difficult to win against him, and it is difficult to play against him, especially for our blockers. So yes, for sure, it’s an honor for me to compete against him,” Giannelli, also the reigning Best Setter in the World Championship, said.
The Azzurri, though, won’t have any time to dwell on overcoming Argentina, as they are now set to face giant-slaying Belgium in the quarterfinals this Wednesday, September 24. It won’t be any easier for the Italians, given that Belgium dealt them a five-set loss during pool play last September 16.
“I think everyone we will face, it will be a difficult match for us. And also for them; we don’t want to stay here and think about that. We have to think about our volleyball, to grow on the court, to grow as a team, and reset a little bit, but we want to compete against everybody,” Giannelli concluded.
Images courtesy of Volleyball World.