Wapda
Unbeaten Wapda of Pakistan swept Chinese Sichuan in the Playoffs 4–8 / 9–13 by a 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-22) and booked a ticket for the quarterfinal. Wapda was led by a giant opposite Aimal Khan (2.04m) who poured in 28 points. Li Rui scored 11 points for winless Sichuan, who failed to preserve a three-point lead in the third set (15-12) and extend a duel to at least four sets.
Thai Nakhonratchasima The Mall VC had worthy rivals in Binagar from Turkmenistan in the first round of the playoffs. Nakhonratchasima prevailed in a close encounter that ended with a comfortable tie-breaker in their favor – 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 19-25, 15-8. Nakhonratchasima’s Jirayu Raksakaew scored a game-high 22 points, pushing his team to the quarterfinal, while Didar Nuriyev recorded 21 points for Binagar.
Sri Lankan Lanka Lions kept their invincibility in the tournament by scoring a thrilling five-set victory over hosts Asia World Club, partially 25-15, 21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-13 and cruised to the quarterfinal. The Lions’ star Romesh Hehathpurage Deepthi was unstoppable with 26 points. Aung Thu top-scored for Asia World Club with 27 points.
Playoffs for 4-8 and 9-13:
Sanest Khánh Hòa (VNM) vs. Canberra Heat (AUS) 3-0 (25-19 25-23 25-17)
Long Power (TWN) vs. Yanchai (HKG) 3-1 (25-18 25-20 17-25 25-17)
Wapda (PAK) vs. Sichuan (CHN) 3-0 (25-23 25-22 25-22)
Lanka Lions (LKA) vs. Asia World Club (MMR) 3-2 (25-15 21-25 25-20 23-25 15-13)
Nakhonratchasima The Mall VC (THA) vs. Binagar (TKM) 3-2 (25-23 25-18 23-27 19-25 15-8)
Quarter-finals:
Khatam Ardakan (IRN) vs. Nakhonratchasima The Mall VC (THA)
Sanest Khánh Hòa (VNM) vs. Long Power (TWN)
Toray Arrows (JPN) vs. Wapda (PAK)
Atyrau (KAZ) vs. Lanka Lions (LKA)
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