Six-time champion Japan nipped South Korea, 30-28, 25-22, 25-23, on Saturday to formalize its entry into the semifinals of the 15th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

A day after dethroning defending champion Australia, the Japanese went through the proverbial eye of the needle in the opening set before sustaining their hot run to top Group 2 in the modified quarterfinals.

The victory set up the Japanese to a meeting with the second-ranked team in Group 1 in the crossover semifinals this Sunday while Korea arranged the other duel with the top Group I team. Kazakhstan, Iran, China and Taiwan are still battling for the top two spots in Group 1 at presstime.

Meanwhile, at the San Andres Gym, the Philippines bowed to lowly Sri Lanka, 23-25, 24-26, 26-28, to remain winless.

The best the Filipinos, who also lost to Vietnam, 16-25, 20-25, 18-25, Friday night, could place now is 17th.

Kunihiro Shimizu sparkled with 22 points for the Japanese, highlighting this with three blocks as Japan moves a step closer to improving its runner-up finish in the previous edition in Jakarta, Indonesia two years back.

Tatsuya Fukuzawa also produced 15 hits for the squad, which remained unbeaten in the tournament.

The Japanese survived the marathon first set with consistent plays capped by Shimizu sealing the win with back-to-back smashes.

The second set saw Korea, third-placers in the last meet, struggle against the Japanese defensive wall, which proved too tough to shatter.

The Koreans fought back in the third set and even led 15-13 following Kim Yo-han’s attacks but the Japanese kept their poise and resumed their organized plays complete tehstraight- sets win.

Yo-han scored 26 kills in a futile bid to push Korea to the win.

Earlier, Hong Kong scraped past Maldives, 25-23, 24-26, 25-17, 15-25, 15-8, to finish 17th in the tournament.