Osaka, Japan, May 11, 2025 – Host teams Suntory Sunbirds and Osaka Bluteon, along with Qatar’s Al-Rayyan Sports Club, made emphatic statements with straight-set victories on the opening day of the inaugural AVC Men’s Champions League at the Panasonic Arena on Sunday, while Iran’s Foolad Sirjan Iranian were forced to dig deep in a thrilling five-set win over Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C VC.
Sunbirds and Bluteon Shine on Home Soil
Japan’s newly crowned SV.League champions, Suntory Sunbirds, opened their Pool A campaign in dominant fashion, sweeping Australia’s Queensland Pirates 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-18).
Towering Russian star Dmitriy Muserskiy led the charge with 13 points, including 10 kills, 2 blocks, and an ace. Support came from Kotaro Kai and Ran Takahashi, who added 9 and 8 points respectively. The Pirates struggled to gain momentum, with Bradley Sting managing a team-high 8 points.
In Pool B, Osaka Bluteon also delivered a clinical performance, delighting the home crowd with a 25-11, 25-21, 25-21 win over the Philippines’ Cignal HD Spikers.
Yuji Nishida starred with 13 points (11 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace), while Shoma Tomita and Lopez Castro Miguel Ángel contributed 12 apiece. Despite moments of resistance, Cignal HD’s top scorer Marck Espejo was limited to just 9 points in the loss.
Al-Rayyan Cruise Past Muharraq
In Pool D action, Al-Rayyan Sports Club of Qatar bounced back from a slow start in the opening set to overpower Bahrain’s Muharraq Club in straight sets (25-22, 25-17, 25-18).
Dutch star Abdel-Aziz Nimir led the way with 16 points (14 attacks, 2 blocks), while Jacob Link provided 13 points for Muharraq, including 12 from attacks.
Foolad Sirjan Survive Five-Set Thriller
Two-time Asian Club champions Foolad Sirjan Iranian faced a stern test in Pool C against a spirited Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C VC side. After taking the opening set, Foolad found themselves locked in a back-and-forth battle as the Thai team rallied to force a decisive fifth set.
Led by Amirhossein Esfandiar, who delivered a match-high 25 points (21 kills, 3 aces, 1 block), and Ali Hijipour Moghadam Faroji, who added 24 points, the Iranians ultimately prevailed 15-11 in the decider. Olympic gold medalist Earvin N’Gapeth and Cuban star Concepcion Rojas Javier Octavio also made key contributions for the Iranian side. Tamiraa Khangal led Nakhon Ratchasima with 21 points (19 attacks, 1 block, 1 ace).
After Day 1 action, Suntory Sunbirds and Osaka Bluteon led Pool A and Pool B with 3 points from straight-set wins. Foolad Sirjan Iranian went atop Pool C with 2 points, while Nakhon Ratchasima came in second with one point. Al-Rayyan Sports Club topped Pool D with 3 points.
On Monday, Nakhon Ratchasima Qmin C VC of Thailand will play a must-win match against Taichung Bank of Chinese Taipei in Pool C, starting at 10.05 local time. Vietnam’s Sport Training Center3 will face Bahrain’s Muharraq in Pool D at 12.35, Queensland Pirates take on Aqtobe from Kazakhstan in Pool A and Osaka Bluteon go up against Shanghai Bright Men’s Volleyball Club of China in Pool B at 19.05.
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