Al Arabi vs. Canberra Heat
Al Arabi SC Doha of Qatar, runners-up from the last season’s tournament in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, showed confident display against Australian representatives Canberra Heat in Pool C, beating them in straight sets, partially 25-15, 25-18, 25-21. German bomber György Grozer, who joined Al Arabi only for the Asian Club Championship (will play next season in the Russian Lokomotiv Novosibirsk), scored 12 for his team, while Matthew Aubrey led the Heat with 12 points as well.
In the same pool, Altay VC of Kazakhstan swept away Yan Chai of Hong Kong.
Toyoda Gosei Trefuerza, Japanese V-League silver medalists and third placed in Myanmar in 2016, proved superiority over Thai Air Force VC, 3-0 (25-17, 27-25, 25-20) in Pool D. Croatian import Igor Omrčen topped Trefuerza with 17 points. Jirayu Raksakaew highlighted the Air Force with 18. In the same pool, Chinese Beijing Baic Motor thrashed Maldivian Sports & Recreation Club from the Maldives in straight sets with Yin Jie scoring 15 points.
Reigning Asian Club Championship title holders, Sarmayeh Bank of Iran, will play their first match in the tournament, today.
Round 1 of the 2017 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship – results:
Pool A
Vietnam Sports Club (Vietnam) – Al-Bahri Sport Club (Iraq) 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-23)
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (Sri Lanka) are free in the first round
Pool B
Sarmayeh Bank (Iran) – Taichung Commercial Bank (Chinese Taipei), on July 29
Pool C
Altay VC (Kazakhstan) – Yan Chai (Hong Kong) 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-20)
Al Arabi SC Doha (Qatar) – Canberra Heat (Australia) 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-21)
Pool D
Toyoda Gosei Trefuerza (Japan) – Air Force VC (Thailand) 3-0 (25-17, 27-25, 25-20)
Beijing Baic Motor (China) – Maldivian Sports & Recreation Club (Maldives) 3-0 (25-11, 25-9, 25-23)
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