Kyoto, Japan, May 15, 2025 – Reigning SV.League champions Suntory Sunbirds Osaka overcame a determined challenge from Bahrain’s Muharraq Club to register a straight-set victory (27-25, 25-20, 25-9) in the quarterfinals of the inaugural AVC Men’s Champions League on Thursday at the Shimadzu Arena.
The win preserved the Sunbirds’ unbeaten record and secured their place in the semifinals, where they will face Qatar’s Al-Rayyan Sports Club on Saturday. Muharraq, meanwhile, exited the competition following the defeat.
Russian star Dmitriy Muserskiy led the charge for the hosts with 17 points (13 kills), while Ran Takahashi delivered another impressive performance with 15 points, also including 13 kills. Sweden’s Jacob Link was the only Muharraq player to reach double digits, finishing with 13 points from 12 attacks and one block.
Reflecting on the match, Ran Takahashi said, “It was a tough game, especially in the first two sets. We focused on breaking their momentum in the second set and improved significantly in the third. Our next match against Al-Rayyan will be another challenge, but if we play with the same confidence, I believe we can win.”
Suntory Sunbirds, boosted by elite talents such as Muserskiy, Takahashi, and Poland’s Aleksander Śliwka, faced a spirited Muharraq side, winners of the 2025 Crown Prince Volleyball Cup. The Bahraini club featured a trio of international players: Swedish opposite Jacob Link, Dutch outside hitter Maarten van Garderen, and Portuguese star Alexandre Ferreira.
The opening set was tightly contested. Muserskiy, Takahashi, and Taishi Onodera led early with powerful swings, but Muharraq responded with effective counterattacks, led by Link’s all-around offensive play. The set remained close throughout, with both teams trading points. In the final moments, Ran delivered a critical spike to secure the hard-earned first set for the Sunbirds.
In the second set, Suntory began to open up their offense. Muserskiy exploited mismatches at the net with his powerful spikes, while Ferreira tried to keep Muharraq within reach with a series of explosive attacks. However, Muharraq’s unforced errors and inconsistent passing allowed Suntory to take control. With improved blocking and superior execution, the Sunbirds clinched the second set 25-20.
The third set was one-sided, as the Sunbirds exploded out of the gate with a 4-0 run, driven by Takahashi’s precision attacks. Muharraq struggled with service errors and poor receptions, while the Japanese side extended their lead to 17-7. A scoring run from Muserskiy and Ran widened the gap, and with Muharraq unable to recover, the Sunbirds closed the match emphatically at 25-9.
With the win, Suntory Sunbirds are now just one victory away from booking a spot at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship and two wins away from capturing the first-ever AVC Men’s Champions League title.
Saturday’s semifinal clash between Suntory and Al-Rayyan promises to be a thrilling encounter. Both teams have yet to drop a set in the tournament and feature a host of international talents. The Sunbirds’ lineup includes Dmitriy Muserskiy (Russia), Aleksander Śliwka (Poland), and Alain De Armas (Cuba). Al-Rayyan counters with Noumory Keita (Mali), Abdel-Aziz Nimir (Netherlands), Marcus Vinícius Costa (Brazil), and Tine Urnaut (Slovenia).
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