The AVC Men’s Champions League quarterfinals lit up Shimadzu Arena on Friday, as Osaka Bluteon and Foolad Sirjan Iranian battled their way into the semifinals with 3-1 victories.
First up, home favorites Osaka Bluteon rode the unstoppable duo of Miguel Angel Lopez and Yuji Nishida to take down Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima. Lopez was on fire with 23 points, while Nishida dazzled with 21, leading a clinical team effort that left the Thai side scrambling.
Later, Iran’s Foolad Sirjan pulled off a gutsy comeback against Shanghai Bright. After dropping the first set, they stormed back behind the lethal combination of Esfandiar Aminhossein and Hajipour Moghadam Faroji Ali, who combined for 44 points. Shanghai, without star Michał Kubiak, couldn’t hold back Iran’s momentum.
With semifinal spots secured, Osaka and Foolad are now on a collision course. One will move on to the AVC final—and earn a coveted place in the 2025 FIVB Club World Championship.
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