Al Arabi register second win
Gulf Times
Al Arabi players celebrate their win over Rebisco Philippines in the 2021 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, yesterday.
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand: Qatar’s Al Arabi registered a fine 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-19) win over Rebisco Philippines in their preliminary Pool B encounter at the 2021 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship yesterday. Al Arabi, who won the Asian Club title in 2012 and finished runner-up three times in 2010, 2015 and 2016, came up in full force in their second match of the pool against Rebisco, who have yet to win a single match in the competition. The Filipinos had no answer to the Al Arabi’s splendid offensive combinations of devastating attacks by Brazilian Felipe Bandero and solid blocks from Felipe and Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim. Despite facing some stiff challenge from the rivals in the opening moments, Al Arabi comfortably clinched the first two sets 21-19, 21-15. Al Arabi head coach Argentine Juan Manuel Cichello shuffled his lineup in the second and third sets. In the third set in particular, the Qatari club performed exceptionally well, leaving the rivals in awe with their quick attacks and superb net-play performance as Al Arabi captured the set 25-19 and match.Felipe Bandero scored a match-high 21 points including 12 attacks for Al Arabi Sports Club, while Joshua Umandal scored 17 points for Rebisco. Al Arabi and their closest rivals Sirjan Foulad Iranian, both of remain undefeated, and will battle it out today for the pole position in Pool B.