Iranian Volleyball Premier League Finals:
Ataei vows Foolad fightback after Shadab draws first blood
Foolad Sirjan head coach Behrouz Ataei said there would “definitely be a third game” in the Iranian volleyball Premier League Finals after his side fell to a 3-1 defeat against Shahdab Yazd in the first of the best-of-three series on Sunday.
Veteran opposite Amir Ghafour chipped in a game-high 29 points, including three aces, and middle-blocker Masoud Gholami had 10 points to help Shahdab come from behind to beat Foolad 24-26, 26-24, 25-21, and 25-17 in Tehran’s Federation Hall.
Outside-hitter Amir Esfandiar topped the scoring chart for Foolad with 21 points, followed by international teammate Ali Hajipour and middle-blocker Seyyed Mohammad Mousavi, who finished on 15 and 11 points, respectively.
Shahdab will be looking to clinch the title when the two familiar foes are back in the same venue for Game 2 today.
This is the fourth final showpiece featuring Foolad and Shahdab over the past 12 months, with the former coming out on top in all three previous occasions.
Foolad beat Shahdab to the Iranian Premier League crown last April, and then went on to come out victorious in the AVC Asian Club Championship showdown in September, before Ataei’s men lifted the Iranian Volleyball Cup trophy thanks to a straight-set triumph in February’s final.
“We knew it was going to be a tough match. Shahab is a really strong and top-quality team and had already beaten us twice in the regular season,” Ataei said after the game.
“My players thought they had the victory in their pocket before the contest and my coaching staff and I had warned them against underestimating their opponent. You have to fight for the victory on the court and we did everything to make them understand the game isn’t won before it’s played,” added the former Iranian national team boss.
“We got off to a strong start, but our players thought they would win the game under any circumstances, until they hit a brick wall in the second set and couldn’t hold their ground.
“After that, they started playing on edge and out of sync. We tried to keep their frustration in check and play with the same calm composure as Shahab, but instead, we were tense and rushed.”
Ataei was still confident that his team would bounce back in Game 2.
“It’s no big deal. It takes two wins to clinch the title and you will defiantly see a third game in the series,” Ataei said.
Asked how the head-to-head between two opposites Ghafour and Hajipour played a part in the final outcome, Ataei said: “They are both top-notch players and have crucial roles in their teams. Ghafour, with all his experience, did a great job to change the course of the game, while Hajipour let the pressure get to him. He lost focus, and just couldn’t bring his A-game today.”
Meanwhile, Ataei’s opposite number Mahdi Mahdavi, who was only appointed to the role in February, was full of praise for Shahdab players for having “the right mindset.”
“Our route in the playoffs was much tougher than Foolad’s as we had to dig deep for victory against Paykan and Chadormalou. That’s is why we had nerves of steel in today’s game,” said the former Iranian setter.
“Foolad is the Asian champion and a world bronze medalist, with quality players and coaching staff, who truly deserve all their achievements over the past year. But credit to my players, they came in with the right mindset and held their own throughout the game.
“All of the players, even the substitutes, made a massive contribution to the victory. We were great in terms of collective defending as we registered 14 successful blocks.
“We are going to play with the same determination and hope to seal the title by the end of the second encounter.”
Should Foolad level the series in Game 2, the two sides will meet in the decider on Thursday.