MANILA, Philippines — The Czech Republic refused to leave the Philippine leg of the 2026 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) without a victory, staging a gritty comeback to outlast the Dominican Republic in a five-set thriller.
After dropping the first two sets, Czechia unleashed a fierce rally to overturn the match, 17-25, 24-26, 25-18, 31-29, 15-10, on Sunday afternoon at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The Dominican Republic, which earlier snapped Japan’s unbeaten run for its first win of the tournament, looked poised to build momentum heading into the final day. However, the Dominicans faltered late, unable to close out the match despite a commanding 2-0 lead.
Helena Grozer credited the electric Manila crowd for boosting their confidence.
“I love playing in the Philippines because you have amazing fans. We even have many Czech supporters here, so I feel very welcome. It’s one of the best feelings as a player,” said Grozer, who chipped in 13 points.
She also shared a personal connection to the venue, recalling her husband György’s stint in the country during past international tournaments.
“We were laughing because we’re kind of playing in the same place. We both enjoy still competing at a high level and sharing these moments,” she added.
Monika Broncuska powered Czechia with a huge 28-point performance, while Magdalena Jehlarova and Michaela Mlejnkova added 14 points apiece.
For the Dominican Republic, Flormarie Heredia led with 17 points, while Geraldine Gonzalez and Yonkaira Peña each scored 15.
With the win, Czechia closed its campaign at 4-4, while the Dominican Republic dropped to 1-7.
