Osaka, Japan, May 13, 2025 – Japan’s SV.League champions Suntory Sunbirds continued their commanding form at the AVC Men’s Champions League, cruising past Kazakhstan’s Aqtobe in straight sets 25-14, 25-16, 25-19 on Tuesday at Panasonic Arena to finish unbeaten at the top of Pool A.
With the victory, the Sunbirds completed pool play with a perfect 2-0 record and six points, following their opening-day win over Australia’s Queensland Pirates. Aqtobe, with one win and one loss, secured second place with three points. The Pirates, winless in two matches, were eliminated. Both the Sunbirds and Aqtobe advanced to the quarterfinals.
Veteran Russian middle blocker Dmitriy Muserskiy led the way for the Sunbirds with a team-high 16 points, including 12 kills and 4 blocks. Alain De Armas added 14 points, while Japanese international Ran Takahashi chipped in with 9. Aqtobe struggled to break through the Japanese defense, with Nikita Shvalev the only Kazakh player approaching double digits, finishing with 9 points.
“I wanted to evaluate some player combinations in our final pool match, which is why I rotated the lineup,” said Suntory Sunbirds head coach Olivier Lecat. “The quarterfinals are crucial, and we’re taking it one step at a time to prepare properly.”
The Sunbirds imposed their dominance early in the opening set, with Muserskiy, standing at 218cm, scoring five of the team’s first nine points through powerful attacks. Takahashi also found his rhythm early, expertly navigating Aqtobe’s block with aggressive hitting. Although Kirill Kostylenko provided brief momentum for the Kazakh side with a strong crosscourt spike, unforced errors and a lack of cohesion allowed Suntory to widen the gap. Muserskiy closed the set with back-to-back aces to seal a one-sided start.
In the second set, Aqtobe made several substitutions, briefly matching the host team’s intensity through sharper attacks from Kostylenko. However, their resistance faded quickly as the Sunbirds resumed control. De Armas ignited the crowd with high-flying hits, while smooth coordination between Muserskiy, Kenji Sato, and Takahashi consistently broke down the Kazakh defense. Aqtobe’s attempts to rally through Kostylenko and Aibet Netalin were met with heavy firepower from Suntory, whic closed out the set behind a flurry of spikes and service winners.
The final set saw Polish left-hander Aleksander Śliwka take the court in place of Takahashi, adding another offensive dimension to the Sunbirds’ attack. Sliwka combined seamlessly with Muserskiy and De Armas to maintain the pressure. Though Aqtobe showed signs of resurgence, led by Shvalev’s late effort, the Japanese side never relinquished their lead. With sharp offensive execution and disciplined defense, Suntory clinched the third set and the match with confidence.
The Sunbirds now enter the knockout phase in strong form, aiming to translate their pool-stage dominance into a deep tournament run.
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SHANGHAI BRIGHT DEMOLISH CIGNAL HD SPIKERS IN THREE-SETTER TO BOOK QUARTERFINAL BERTH AT AVC MEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Osaka, Japan, May 13, 2025 – Shanghai Bright delivered a clinical performance on Tuesday, defeating the Philippines’ Cignal HD Spikers in straight sets 25-12, 25-21, 25-18 to secure their first win in Pool B at the inaugural AVC Men’s Champions League at Panasonic Arena.
Led by standout performances from Xiu Chengcheng, Polish veteran Michal Kubiak, and Wang Bohan, the Chinese powerhouse rebounded strongly from their opening loss to host club Osaka Bluteon. The Tuesday’s victory earned Shanghai Bright three points, placing them second in the pool and booking their place in the quarterfinals. Cignal HD, having lost both of their matches, finished third and were eliminated from the competition.
Xiu topped all scorers with an impressive 15-point performance, including 11 attacks, 3 blocks, and one ace. Kubiak and Wang added 10 points each in support. For Cignal HD, Steven Charles Rotter and Louie Ramirez contributed 11 points apiece in a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful effort.
“This was a must-win match for us. Without it, we wouldn’t make the quarterfinals,” said Kubiak post-match. “There’s a chance we’ll face Al-Rayyan in the next round, but I’m focused on doing my best to help the team continue winning.”
In a decisive match to determine the second Pool B qualifier, Shanghai Bright wasted no time asserting dominance. The towering duo of Xiu (200cm) and Wang (195cm) spearheaded the offense, exploiting a clear height advantage (196cm team average vs Cignal HD’s 186cm). The Chinese side cruised through the first set with powerful attacks and suffocating blocks. Though Rotter briefly sparked a response for the Filipinos, Shanghai Bright maintained control to take the set with ease.
The second set was more evenly contested early on, with both teams trading points. Cignal HD, energized by strong efforts from Rotter and Ramirez, challenged the taller Chinese squad with aggressive plays. At one point, the Philippines closed the gap, displaying improved cohesion and tactical execution.
However, Shanghai Bright quickly regrouped. With Xiu’s high-powered offense and Kubiak’s leadership on full display, the Chinese side regained momentum and closed out the set despite spirited resistance from the Filipinos.
In the third and final set, Shanghai Bright maintained their momentum and continued to apply pressure. Xiu remained dominant at the net, joined by Zhang Zhejia with lightning-fast spikes and relentless attacks. Cignal HD’s Ramirez and Marck Espejo led a courageous charge, finding ways around the blocks and showcasing their attacking range. But the firepower and precision of Shanghai Bright proved too much.
With the combined offensive output of Xiu, Zhang, and Kubiak, Shanghai Bright surged ahead to seal the match and advance confidently into the knockout stage.
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