CHIBA, JAPAN: Hosts Japan beat Qatar 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-21) in their opening match of the 21st Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship at the Chiba Port Arena, in Chiba, Japan, yesterday.
The Preliminary Round – Pool A match saw Japan, the most decorated team in the competition’s history with nine titles, dictating the tempo of the match early on. Setter Naonobu Fujii provided masterful orchestration of Japan’s offense, distributing the ball well amongst each ready and able spiker. Qatar side was able to respond accordingly in several exchanges, delivering well in key transitions.
However, Japan showed a more versatile, more holistic quality of play, performing equally well on offense and defence, to take the first set, 25-20. In the second set, Japan continued to attack, but was able retaliate, mostly when they could control the middle with captain Ibrahim Ibrahim and Belal Nabel Abunabot.
They also gained quick points from Renan Ribeiro’s attacks. While Qatar generally played more aggressively in block, it was Japan’s second line of defence that helped propel better accuracy in counter-attack.
Japan sealed the second set with a stuff block at 25-23. Japan continued to play within their known system of strengths. Opposite Issei Otake performed consistently on attack, while Takahashi was helped out commendably with important digs in the backcourt. Qatar escaped two match points until Otake sealed the match with 25-21 in the third set. Qatar will play against India at the same venue today.
