Al Arabi SC spikers sail past Rebisco Philippines
AL Arabi Sports Club brushed aside Rebisco Philippines’ challenge with ease winning 25-19, 25-15, 25-19 on the third day
Sunday of their preliminary Pool B encounter of the 2021 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship being played at Terminal 21 Hall in akhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Al Arabi SC, who captured the Asian Club title in 2012 and silver medal for three times in 2010, 2015 and 2016 and the team which landed three major titles in atar’s domestic tournaments including the atar Cup and the Amir Cup in 2020, had already made a perfect start in the Championship following a clean sweep in their first clash against Thailand’s iamond Food on Saturday.
The ataris still came up in full force in their second match against Rebisco, which have yet won a single match in the one-week competition. The Filipinos proved 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. espite 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 uan Manuel Cichello shuf ed his lineup a lot in the second and third sets. In the third set in particular, the ataris performed exceptionally well, leaving the rivals in awe with their quick attacks and superb net-play performance. Al Arabi captured the set 2519 and match.
Felipe Bandero scored a match-high 21 points including 12 attacks for Al Arabi, while
oshua Umandal scored 1 points on Rebisco’s losing effort.
With the sensational victory over Rebisco Philippines, Al Arabi made it two for two in Pool B. The ataris and their closest rivals Sirjan Foulad Iranian, both of them remained undefeated, will battle it out on Monday for the pole position in Pool B.
“This is the fifth time I’m playing in the Asian Club Championship with Al Arabi. It is such an important competition. We are here to repeat our title in 2012. We are playing as a team and this game was essential for us to ex our muscles for better volleyball. I hope we can get the ambition of the club to become the eventual champions,” said Renan Ribeiro, who has 11 years of experience with Al Arabi.