Team Netherlands overcomes Qatar at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship on September 13, 2025. Volleyball World
MANILA — Team Netherlands is playing without its star spiker, Nimir Abdel-Aziz, at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.
Despite this, they are still seeing a lot of potential in this young core, particularly the 25-year-old Bennie Tuinstra, who said that the youthful ones are "practicing hard" to level up their game, especially they are now at the men's volleyball's grandest stage.
The Dutch side proved they can compete, outpacing Qatar, 25-18, 25-23, 26-28, 25-23, on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
READ: Bagunas shines but Alas Pilipinas' FIVB Worlds debut spoiled by Tunisia
"We have a group with a lot of young players and this is the first summer of really high level volleyball. But I think the group is adjusting to this level very quickly," said Tuinstra.
READ: FIVB Worlds: Turkiye shocks Japan; USA, Canada get wins
"We have a lot of potential players and I think they are showing good things but also you can see they are not experienced. We are working on that and we are practicing hard."
Among those who shined against Qatar was Tuinstra, who fired 15 points, the 27-year-old Michiel Ahyi who had 20 points, and Tom Koops who registered 17 markers.
Tuinstra recognized that this Netherlands squad is "different" now that they don't have Abdel-Aziz.
"Of course it's different when he's not here because he was our main leader in the group. Now other people have to step up and show that they can play as well. I think we do a great job with that and I would describe the group as very energetic and very motivated."
After the Saturday win, Tuinstra and company are now at 1-0 in Pool B, while Qatar fell down to 0-1.
They will see action on the taraflex on September 15 against Romania at the same Cubao venue.