A 12,000-strong crowd were in attendance, but Nambu Masashi’s side could not deliver as Luciano De Cecco conducted a well-oiled Argentine attack. Facundo Conte led the scorers with 13, ably supported by Sebastian Sole on 12.

Argentina took control early on with a Kunhiro Shimizu spike successfully blocked. Japan did overtake the visitors on 6-5, but Argentina’s pressure from serve and block helped them maintain that lead. Japan edge closer after a Yamauchi block on Luciano Zornetta at 19-18. Argentina moved to within set point and failed at their first chance. Japan then made things even on 24-all, but a Pablo Creer tip saw the set fall to Argentina.

Japan kept the pressure on Argentina in the second, but the world No.7 started to find their rhythm leading into the first technical timeout. Japan were as dogged and determined as they were in the opening set however, moving to within one point again before the Argentines kicked on once more, earning a three point advantage at the second technical timeout. Japan refused to let Argentina get too far ahead, but the South Americans kept the advantage to take a 2-0 lead.

It remained close in the third, but some big Conte serves put pressure on Japan as they entered the first technical timeout three ahead. The hosts took the lead for the first time at 13-12 but some costly errors meant they gifted the Argentines a three point lead on 16-13 as the game started to drift away from them. Before long match point was brought up and Julio Velasco’s side duly delivered on the second time of asking to take the match.