Al Rayyan beat Kazakhstan’s Kondensat Zhaikmunaiy in the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship semi-final in Manila yesterday.

Agencies/Manila



Qatar’s Al Rayyan powered into the final of the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship with a tough straight sets victory over Kondensat Zhaikmunaiy-Kazakhstan here yesterday.
In a close battle, Al Rayyan won 25-22, 25-22, 25-19 to set up a title clash with Iranian giants Matin Varamin who defeated China’s BAIC Motors 27-25, 25-23, 25-20.
Al Rayyan were served well by the exploits of Christian Savani, Mohamed al-Hachdadi, and Yosleyder Cala Gerardo.
The Qatar team started flat in the first two sets but found ways to breach the Kazakh side’s defense. In the third set, they took control and overpowered the East-Asian squad with thunderous spikes to punch the ticket to the final.
“It was a difficult game since it is a knockout system. There is pressure because we are the favourites. We were a bit nervous because of the importance of this game. But we had more experience,” said Qatar head coach Igor Arbotina.
He doesn’t want the team to get ahead of themselves approaching the gold medal match tomorrow.
“Any competition is not the same so it is difficult to compare,” he added, saying teams have paraded different lineups and top-class foreign recruits.
Meanwhile, as expected, Matin Varamin prevailed in the second semi to clinch a spot in the final.
The Chinese side threatened to steal the first set battling back from a 15-18 deficit to take set point at 24-23. However, Seyed Mousavi took over with rattling quick spikes.
The second set was as close as it could get as well, although Iran got the early lead as China was hounded by errors. But with hard-hitting Frederic Winters scoring three straight points, BAIC Motors pulled within 20-21.
However, Mostafa Sharifat and Shahram Mahmoudi dodged their opponents’ comeback attempt with telling blows to help their side win.
Al Rayyan and Matin Varamin had clashed in the final of the tournament last year too in which the Iranians had emerged winners.
Today’s final thus offers the Qatari side a chance to get even and stamp their supremacy in Asia.