Japan wins, Qatar bags QF spot in Asian Men’s Volley club championship

Yuki Hosokawa of Japan (4) is challenged by Thanh Thuan Tu and Trong Linh Nguyen of Vietnam during the 2014 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. INQUIRER PHOTO / RODEL ROTONI

MANILA, Philippines — Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler of Japan ended a two-game slide after defeating Duc Long Gia Lai of Vietnam, 25-22, 22-25, 26-24, 25-21, in the 2014 Asian Men’s Volleyball Club Championship on Friday.

With Japan national team member Yuki Hosokawa and Egyptian import Mohamed Khattab leading the way, the Japanese finally barged into the win column in pool B of the competition.

Hosokawa delivered of his 23 while Khattab had 17 for Japan, which is already out of the running for a quarterfinals but still has a chance to get a better rank in the classification round.

“We really wanted to win, but we were grouped with powerful opponents in the elimination round,” said Japan coach Hiroyuki Furuta through an interpreter.

Vietnam has likewise been eliminated after dropping to 0-3.

In pool C action at Cuneta Astrodome, Turkmenistan racked up a second straight victory with a tight 25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 25-23 over Green Dragon of Hong Kong.

Al Rayyan of Qatar, meanwhile, bagged a spot in the playoffs in pool C after shutting out Sohar Sports Club of Oman, 25-19, 25-23, 25-14.

It was Qatar’s third victory in as many games to top the group, followed by Turkmenistan at 2-2, Oman at 1-2 and Hong Kong at 0-3.