Al-Rayyan book place in Emir Volleyball Cup Final
DOHA, May 7, 2018 - Defending champions Al Rayyan Club held off runners-up and 21-time winners Al Arabi in the second thrilling semi-final playoff 3-2 and advanced into the Amir Cup Volleyball Championship final at the QVA Indoor Hall on Sunday.
With French star Earvin N'Gapeth rifling his spike into the Al Arabi Club court, Al Rayyan Club pulled off a 25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 25-27, 15-13 victory in 127 minutes. This is the 26th Amir Cup final for the 12-time champions Al Rayyan Club, who will now meet Al Ahli Club on May 12.
Al Rayyan Club coach Carlos Schwanke said after the match:"It was a difficult match as both the teams have quality players. We fought for every ball and that was the best part of the semi-finals. We're very happy to be into another final and hope to win it too."
N'Gapeth, who plays for Modena Club in Italy and will face his teammate Tine Urnaut in the final, said,"I'm very happy to win and be in the final. We played two matches against Al Arabi and both were very difficult. I'm delighted for me and the team. I hope we will win this final.
"I know that big stars keep coming to play in Qatar. I was very happy when I was contacted to play here. I know they have good level here and good volleyball mentality. So I decided to come here and I hope this will not be the last time."
Talking about meeting his friend and teammate Urnaut in the final, he said,"We play all the year together but in the final, we will be against each other. In a way, it is a victory for Modena (whosover wins) but I'm looking forward to the final," said N'Gapeth, who has been the best player of the World League twice.
In the opening set, both N'Gapeth and Dutch star Nimir Abdel-Aziz treated with power-packed smashes. But with Al Rayyan Club getting crucial support of Bilal Abunabot, Mubarak Dahi Waleed, Marcus and Bairama Faye, they were able to open of three to four points thrice.
Though Al Arabi Club managed to recover twice, they were not able to wipe out the deficit once they fell behind 14-17. After an Abdel-Aziz kill (20-21), Ibrahim Mohamed's service into the net proved a little too costly for Al Arabi.
A Waleed touch out was followed by Faye's monster block on Abdel-Aziz which set up the first set point for Al Rayyan Club (24-21). N'Gapeth then unleashed a vicious service on libero Abdulrahman was not to be returned and Al Rayyan Club sealed the set to go 1-0 up.
The second set, clinched by Al Arabi at 23, was quite tight with neither getting an advantage of more than or two points. For most part, though Al Rayyan Club stayed ahead of the rivals, Al Arabi Club made a decisive move at 23-23. Bassam's smash could not be defended and then Renan Rebeiro pulled off a hard smash. Al Rayyan Club tried to retrieve it but the return hit the antenna.
Al Rayyan Club attacked with full resources and intensity in the beginning of the third set. The ploy paid off as the pulled five points clear (9-4(. The difference turned out to be the turning point. Al Arabi Club did try to overcome it but could not. Later, Al Rayyan Club managed to be three set points up (24-21). After giving away one point, Waleed contrived a touch out to secure the set and 2-1 lead for his team.
Al Arabi Club caught the opponents unawares in the fourth set and went 5-1 clear. They converted it into a six-point advantage later (15-9) But at this stage, Al Rayyan Club launched a pulsating comeback and equalised at 20-20. Al Rayyan Club got into the position to win the match but Al Arabi Club were rescued by Dutch star Abdel-Aziz, who forced a touch out to set up the set point (26-25). Then Faye was blocked, leaving the match tied at 2-2.
In the tie-break set, Al Rayyan Club used different variations and suddenly shot put from 5-5 to 7-5 and then 10-6 to pile immense pressure on Al Arabi Club. But their rally was led by Abdel-Aziz. Ibrahim Mohamed, Jorge, Rebeiro and Bassam added their efforts to bring Al Arabi up.
However, N'Gapeth fired a smash to set up the match point (14-11). But he could not finish the game, helping Al Arabi Club come within a point of forcing the extra points (13-14). But he could not be kept in check any longer and he drilled the ball into the Al Arabi Club court to pull off the win.
N'Gapeth collected 33 points for Al Rayyan Club, with 26 off the attack game. Marcus added 20, while Bilal and Mubarak Dahi Waleed netted 12 each. For Al Arabi Club, Nimir Abdel-Aziz was the leading scorer with 27. Jorge, who burst into tears after the loss, got 17. Rebeiro had 15, while Bassam notched 12.
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