AVC Men Champs/ Iran Ruled Pool F with win over Australia

Surabaya, Indonesia, July 29, 2017 – The SMM 19th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship has reached its climax on Sunday when top eight teams are battling it out in the quarterfinals to seek smooth progress to the final four, with Korea and China setting up a heavyweight clash.

Former consecutive two-time Asian champions Iran ruled Pool F with 6 points from 2 wins against one loss, the similar performance achieved by Chinese Taipei. However, with the better sets ratio, Iran moved to the top of Pool F, with Chinese Taipei in second position. Australia and China came in respective third and fourth places following the similar match results. Nonetheless, the former had a better sets ratio, leaving the latter to finish fourth of the pool.

An uphill task awaits Indonesia when the host side will be put to the test by Iran, current world No.7 but fielding a strong U23 squad that are preparing for the next month’s FIVB Men’s U23 World Championship in Cairo, Egypt. The Iranian U23 team on Saturday saw off Australia in four-setter 25-11 25-19 22-25 25-17.

“I’m very happy for the fact that my team are the U23 squad, while Australia are the senior side which have already clinched a ticket to the next year’s FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship. One week ago, we came here just to gain experience and today we played a very good match. We are now preparing for our next match tomorrow against Indonesia. It will be a very difficult match because the Indonesians have their home crowds to support them. I hope we can do our best again,” said Iran’s Argentine head coach Juan Manuel Cichello.

Saturday’s Results
At the Tri Dharma Petrokimia Gymnasium
Top-eight playoff encounters
Iran b Australia 3-1 (25-11 25-19 22-25 25-17)
Korea b Kazakhstan 3-1 (25-18 23-25 25-23 25-13)
Chinese Taipei b China 3-1 (25-22 19-25 27-25 25-20)
Japan b Indonesia 3-0 (25-23 25-15 25-12)

At the Wahana Ekspresi Poesponegoro Gymnasium
9th-16th playoff matches
Qatar b Vietnam 3-1 (25-22 25-15 19-25 27-25)
Thailand b Pakistan 3-0 (25-18 26-24 25-23)
Saudi Arabia b Sri Lanka 3-1 (25-17 27-25 19-25 25-23)
Iraq b Hong Kong 3-1 (25-13 25-22 23-25 25-19)