Shahdab Yazd’s Masoud in his attempt to attack Gas Al-Janoob
Yazd, Iran, September 12, 2024 – The excitement reached a fever pitch Thursday as the quarterfinals of the 2024 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship wrapped up in Yazd, Iran. With fierce competition and standout performances from players, four teams secured their spots in the semifinals: Shahdab Yazd (Iran), Foolad Sirjan Iranian (Iran), Pavlodar Volleyball Club (Kazakhstan),and Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi (Indonesia). Meanwhile, the quarterfinal losers will now compete in the 5th-8th classification matches to determine their final rankings.
Three Al-Rayyan players try to block an attack from Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi
Each of these teams showcased exceptional skill and resilience in their quarterfinal victories, setting the stage for intense semifinal clashes. The Iranian teams, buoyed by home support, and the strong challengers from the Kazakh and Indonesian sides promise to make the semifinals thrilling.
Quarterfinal Recap
The first quarterfinal match saw Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi of Indonesia power through Al-Rayyan Sports Club from Qatar in a dominant straight-set victory (25-18, 25-17, 25-23).
Jean Patry, Jakarta’s opposite hitter, led the team to victory with an impressive 16 points, showcasing his versatility and strength at the net. Despite a strong showing by Oliver Venno, who recorded a match-high 18 points for Al-Rayyan, the Qatari club was unable to counter Jakarta’s aggressive attacks and solid defensive plays.
Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi’s head coach, Reidel Alfonso Gonzales, expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance and optimistic outlook for the upcoming semifinals.
“In this match, we tried to solve our problems by implementing our tactics well, based on the analysis we had done. I think we are getting better every match, and we will prepare ourselves for the semifinals. We have a special plan for each match, and we will definitely have a specific plan for the next one,” said Gonzales. Jakarta will face Iran’s Foolad Sirjan Iranian in the semifinals.
Al-Rayyan’s head coach, Morad Sennoun, reflected on his team’s performance, stating, “We did not play well, especially in the first and second sets. In the third set, we tried to improve with the changes we made, but they did not work as expected. The referees made some late decisions, which affected our performance.”
In the second quarterfinal clash, Pavlodar Volleyball Club from Kazakhstan breezed past Kam Air of Afghanistan, securing a 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-22) victory in a match that lasted just 73 minutes.
This marked Pavlodar’s 14th semifinal appearance in the tournament, continuing their legacy as one of the top volleyball clubs in Asia. Ustinov Mikhail led the team with 19 points, while Lutfullah Azizi managed 11 points for Kam Air.
Pavlodar’s head coach, Sergei Gribov, praised his team’s tactical execution and looked forward to the semifinal match against Shahdab Yazd, the tournament hosts.
“Kam Air were not a very strong team in front of us, and we were able to implement our tactics well. Shahdab Yazd are definitely the strongest team in this competition, and we will do our best to have a good game against them,” said Gribov.
Kam Air, a newly formed Afghan team with just one month of preparation for this tournament, will now face Gas Al-Janoob from Iraq in the 5th-8th classification match.
Kam Air’s head coach, Hamid Movahedi, noted the inexperience of his players but remained hopeful for the future. “Our players have little international experience, and we only had a short time to prepare. The level of the competition is high, but we hope to improve in future tournaments.”
In the day’s third quarterfinal match, hosts Shahdab Yazd took on Gas Al-Janoob of Iraq in front of a packed home crowd of 6,000 fans. Shahdab triumphed 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-23) in a thrilling contest that saw both teams battle fiercely for every point.
Radchenko Gleb, Gas Al-Janoob’s standout player, delivered an impressive performance with 21 points, while Shahdab’s Amir Ghafour and Masoud Gholami contributed 16 and 10 points respectively to lead their team to victory.
An injury to Gas Al-Janoob’s libero, Abbas Abdulkareem, in the third set added to the drama, but the Iraqi team continued to fight valiantly.
Shahdab’s head coach, Rahman Mohammadirad, praised his team’s resilience and readiness for the next stage.
“We played a very good game today and won the match. Gas Al-Janoob are a strong team that can challenge any opponent. The semifinal game will be intense, but with our passionate fans, we hope to prepare ourselves well for the final.”
Gas Al-Janoob’s head coach, Alaa Khalaf, congratulated Shahdab Yazd on their win and praised the competitive atmosphere in the hall.
“Famous players play in Shahdab, and we had a good game against them. I thank the fans for their enthusiastic support.”
In the final quarterfinal match, Foolad Sirjan Iranian became the last semifinalist after defeating Kuwait Sporting Club 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-17), leaving the Kuwaiti club winless.
Ali Hajipour, Armin Ghelichniazi, and Amir Hossein Esfandiar were the standout performers for Foolad Sirjan, each contributing double digits (15, 11, 10 respectively).
Foolad Sirjan Iranian’s head coach, Behrouz Ataei, was proud of his team’s advancement and expressed optimism about the semifinals.
“I congratulate the Sirjan team and the people of Iran for having two teams in the semifinals. The Indonesian team we face next are strong, but we have analyzed their game and will prepare accordingly.”
Kuwait’s head coach, Taner Atik, acknowledged the difficulties his team faced, citing limited preparation time. “The Sirjan team trained for about three months, and we only trained for 10 days. This match was like training for us, but not for them.”
With the semifinals set, anticipation is high as these four elite teams vie for a spot in the final. The 5th-8th classification matches will also be closely contested as teams look to improve their rankings.
With the tournament entering its final stages, the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship continues to deliver high-caliber volleyball and captivating matchups, as fans eagerly await the crowning of the 2024 champions.
MATCH SCHEDULE
September 13
5th-8th Classification:
11.00am: Gas Al-Janoob (IRQ) vs Kam Air (AFG)
14.00pm: Kuwait Sporting Club (KUW) vs Al-Rayyan Sports Club (QAT)
Semifinals:
17.00pm: Shahdab Yazd (IRI) vs Pavlodar Volleyball Club (KAZ)
20.00pm: Foolad Sirjan Iranian (IRI) vs Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi (INA)
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