VolleyBar SPECIAL: Saturday August 8, 2026

If you wish to publish an Italian translation of this article, any of our other articles, or any part of them, please cite the original source. Plagiarism is illegal!

Surprise!
Considering the number of news stories we came across, we decided — for the second time — to write a special episode, ignoring our usual weekend break.

Do you remember setter Joshua “Owa” Retamar, whom we talked about yesterday on VolleyBar and who was also featured in an article by our colleague?
Well, we found out from our “Italian friends” — yes, the very same ones who enjoy copy-pasting and translating our articles into Italian, and who even copied the idea of VolleyBar by coming up with their own, rather approximate, “Daily Columns” — that he is supposedly going to play in Brno.
Of course, that is not true, since he is officially a new player of Ordu VK in Azerbaijan, not in the Czech Republic. Oops.

And speaking of transfers that have made history, Chinese national team opposite Wen Zihua has officially signed with Gaziantep Gençlik Spor for the 2026–27 season. The move marks his first club stint outside China and makes Wen Zihua the first Chinese player to compete in Turkey’s Efeler Ligi!
We wonder where our Italian friends will place him this time…

Just a few more weeks to wait before the French Leagues return!
• 𝗠𝗘𝗡’𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗨𝗘 𝗔 – Starts on October 17
• 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡’𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗨𝗘 𝗔 – Starts on October 3
• 𝗠𝗘𝗡’𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗨𝗘 𝗕 – Starts on October 17

And now, let’s take a look at a roundup of news from Asia, where Asian Volleyball Confederation President Ramon Suzara officially opened the 26th AVC General Assembly on Saturday in Bangkok, welcoming volleyball leaders and delegates from across the continent for a key gathering focused on governance, development and the continued advancement of Asian volleyball.

Staying in Asia, Philippine volleyball star Bryan Bagunas will be honored as the Fans’ Choice Men’s Volleyball Player at the 1st AVC Gala Awards Night in Bangkok, Thailand, chosen by the fans.
Together with him, Japan’s Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami, who will be honored as the Outstanding Women’s Beach Volleyball Players, volleyball legend Kim Yeon-koung, who will be honored for her legacy and dedication as ambassador of Asian volleyball, the Philippines’ Cherry Ann Rosales and Bernadeth Pons, honored as the Fans’ Choice Women’s Beach Volleyball Players, Japan’s superstar Yuki Ishikawa, Qatar’s beach volleyball powerhouses Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, honored as the Outstanding Men’s Beach Volleyball Players, Volleyball Coach of the Year Ferhat Akbaş and Yuliya Akulova, named Volleyball Referee of the Year. Wang Lijun has been named Beach Volleyball Referee of the Year. Mayu Ishikawa has been named Outstanding Women’s Volleyball Player, Zhu Ting Fans’ Choice Women’s Volleyball Player, and Abbas Pourasgari and Alireza Aghajanighasab have been named Fans’ Choice Men’s Beach Volleyball Players.

Meanwhile, Korea sweeps China to advance to the gold medal match of the 2026 Asian Eastern Zonal Men’s Volleyball Championship, 25:21, 25:22, 25:20, and will face Japan for the title!
Japan advanced to Final after defeating hosts Mongolia in a thrilling five-set battle: 27:25, 25:23, 23:25, 18:25, 15:12.

Canada swept Costa Rica and secured its place in the semifinals of the Boys’ U17 Pan American Cup (25:19, 25:17, 25:16) with 10 points from Liam Bendavid. In semifinal they’ll face Mexico, while USA, who beat hosts Guatemala also 3-0 (25:20, 25:17, 25:14), will face Venezuela in other matchup.

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