Fifteen-time champions Al Arabi Club made it to their 22nd final at the Qatar Cup Volleyball Championship, knocking out runners-up El Jaish at the Qatar Women’s Sports Committee Hall on Tuesday.
Al Arabi Club had already clinched the first semi-final playoff on Sunday and tonight’s 25-13 21-25 25-13 25-21 victory in one hour and 38 minutes handed them a 2-0 result.
But Al Arabi Club will have to wait for their rivals as the other series between QVA League champions Police and holders Al Rayyan Club was tied 1-1 with the former coming back into the race with a 21-21 25-22 21-25 25-28 victory in an hour and 42 minutes.
French Patrick Duflos-tutored Al Arabi Club looked in better control in tonight’s match than the first one, excelling in both defence and attack. Besides, their service was also strong, which forced their rivals to error in reception and did not allow them to mount the kind of reply they were capable of.
Renan Rebeiro’s superb serves put El Jaish on the back-foot and a 5-0 run provided Al Arabi Club a hot start. With both pros Polish Gyorgy Grozer and American Taylor Sander spearheading the attack, Al Arabi Club suffered some resistance in the second set which they lost.
However, they quickly regrouped to unsettle El Jaish with a mixture of aggressive and defensive net play to reclaim the lead in the third. In the fourth, El Jaish rallied from 7-11 and 8-12 to come within a point of equalising (12-13). But four points in a row by Sander and Grozer placed them on the path to the victory.
Sander’s deft drop brought Al Arabi Club the first match point (19-24). Argentine Facundo Conte saved one with a fine smash. El Jaish prolonged the set with a block. But Al Arabi sealed the fate of the army team as Grozer fired a huge spike from the right to take the team into the final.
Well-built Grozer netted 22 points, including 18 from his smashes, for Al Arabi, while Sander got 19. Middle player Mohamed Ibrahim and Rebeiro provided vital support to the pro pair and earned nine points each. The team did well in the blocks, getting 15 points to 4 by El Jaish. Rebeiro effected four. Setter Seifeddine Elmajid and Grozer accounted for three each. Thiago’s two out of 5 points came off the blocks.
Duflos, the former French national team player, was thrilled to guide the team into the final of his first assignment. “Today, we really played a very good match. We excelled in all the departments, especially the reception. It allowed us to keep the ball in the middle and we could play with many combinations. We also served well and as a result, we could take good positions on the net for the blocks.
“Yeah, overall it was a fantastic match. I’m also happy that this is my first final here. It is good for me but also it is good for the entire team. We have two new players and the team seems to have adjusted with them. I must say that other players also raised their level compared to three months before.
“We’re ready for any team that comes in the final. Both Al Rayyan and Police are tough and I don’t think if it will be easy for anybody,” added the French mentor.
For El Jaish, the best efforts came from Conte, who secured 21 points, including 19 off his spikes. He was followed by fellow pro Jakub Jarosz, who landed 18. David came up with surprise winners and fetched them 10 points.
Al Rayyan, who had faced some stiff resistance in the opening two sets during their 3-1 victory in the first encounter on Sunday, failed to shake off Police in the early parts of the second clash.
Both Mads Ditlevsen and Thijs ter Horst were aided admirably by Vantislav, John Chigbo, Nader Abubaker and setter Bobby. This made Police a stronger all-round team of the two. They did not ease up and took both the opening sets.
Al Rayyan Club got one set back, but their opponents led 8-4 in the fourth and kept the initiative with them before winning the set and completing a 3-1 victory, which forced the decider on April 6 at 6.30 pm.
Ditlevsen provided 17 kills on his way to 22 points and Dutch Horst notched 17 points. Abubaker and Vantislav had eight each, while Chigbo and Bobby gained seven and six, respectively.
Cuban Oreol Camejo was the leading scorer for Al Rayyan with 13. Other pro Melad Ebadipour, an Iranian national team player, could not impress much and had only nine. Dusan Petkovic netted 12, while Mubarak Dahi Waleed chipped in 10.
Police coach Damian Arrendondo said, “Our attack was much better than the first match. We served very well and focused on Ziad. Also we were able to catch the Cuban guy (Camejo) and didn’t let him get many points.
“The last set was quite important for us. At that time, Al Rayyan looked like coming back and they could do anything. We controlled them well and won the match.
“In the last match, I hope my players are able to recover 100 percent. There has been too much pressure on them and they must be a bit tired after two matches in short period. We hope to continue our momentum,” added the Police coach.
النتائج
Police beat Al Rayyan Club 25-2125-22 21-25 25-18 in one hour and 42 minutes
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Al Arabi Club beat El Jaish 25-13 21-25 25-13 25-21 in one hour and 38 minutes
Thursday’s fixture
Police vs Al Rayyan Club at 6.30 pm