AVC Men’s Champions League:
Foolad outclass Taichung Bank to top Pool C
AVC – Iran’s Foolad Sirjan secured their place on top of Pool C and booked a quarterfinal berth at the inaugural AVC Men’s Champions League after an emphatic 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-13) victory over Taichung Bank of Chinese Taipei on Tuesday at the Panasonic Arena in Osaka, Japan.
The newly-crowned Iranian champion showcased their firepower and tactical superiority throughout the match, notching their second straight win and collecting a total of 5 points.
Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC of Thailand took second place with 4 points, while Taichung Bank, winless in both outings, were eliminated.
French star Earvin Ngapeth and Iranian opposite Mohsen Delavari led the scoring for Foolad with 15 points apiece. Cuban middle-blocker Javier Concepcion added 13 points, while Aliireza Abdolhamidi chipped in 11.
Foolad’s cohesive offense and formidable net defense restricted Taichung Bank to limited opportunities – no player on the Chinese Taipei side reached double digits, with opposite Chen En-De leading his team with just 6 points.
“I’m very happy with our second win. It was important for us to secure this victory,” said Concepcion after the match. “We might face Shanghai Bright next in the quarterfinals. They’re a strong team with high-level tactics, so we’ll need to push even harder and respond with our own strategies. We’re excited and ready for the challenge.”
Foolad Sirjan started strongly, asserting dominance in the opening set with explosive attacks, well-placed aces, and a formidable block. Ngapeth, Concepcion, and Delavari proved unstoppable at the net, racking up points with powerful spikes and timely blocks. Although Taichung Bank showed flashes of resilience – most notably through Tseng Mao-Tsung, who came off the bench to contribute a few late points – the Iranians maintained control to close the set convincingly.
The second set saw Foolad Sirjan elevate their intensity. Ngapeth delivered a series of explosive hits, while Delavari impressed with sharp cross-court spikes and solid blocking. Despite efforts from Liu You-Lin and Li Yuan to stabilize Taichung Bank’s attack, the relentless Iranian assault overwhelmed the defense, sealing another comfortable set.
Taichung Bank fought hard in the third set, attempting to break through the Iranian wall with a renewed offensive push. Wen Yi-Kai sparked some hope with aggressive attacks, but Foolad Sirjan’s experience and depth proved decisive. Ngapeth and Delavari continued to dominate, combining for a string of aces and kills that left no room for a comeback. Foolad Sirjan closed the set and the match with ease.