DRAMATIC MATCH | Ran Takahashi VS Nimir Abdel-Aziz | AVC Champions League 2025. NIMIR LEADS AL-RAYYAN TO THRILLING TIE-BREAK VICTORY OVER SUNTORY SUNBIRDS, SPOT IN AVC MEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL AND CLUB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.
Kyoto, Japan, May 17, 2025 – Abdel-Aziz Nimir delivered a sensational match-high 40 points to lead Al-Rayyan Sports Club of Qatar to a dramatic 3-2 comeback (22-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 17-15) victory over Japan’s Suntory Sunbirds Osaka in the semi-finals of the inaugural AVC Men’s Champions League at Shimadzu Arena on Saturday.
The electrifying win sent Al-Rayyan into the championship final and secured their place in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship. Meanwhile, the Sunbirds’ hopes were dashed, disappointing their home fans after a valiant effort.
Nimir, who previously competed in Japan’s V.League with Wolfdogs Nagoya, was unstoppable, tallying 31 kills, 5 aces, and 4 blocks. On the opposing side, Russian outside hitter Dmitriy Muserskiy recorded 30 points with 25 kills, 2 blocks, and 3 aces, while Japanese star Ran Takahashi added 20 points, including 19 successful attacks.
“It was a tough and great match. I’m very happy we won,” said the 33-year-old Nimir in a brief comment after the match.
Here at the Asian Volleyball Confederation Men's Champions League and what a start to the match
Need to be good on their pass and that's good enough
Swing of the match that's scary. That's properly scary
Cafe had watched run go to the floor. He'd made a decision pipe
The car takes one for the team of Kata
Service brilliant trouble. It's coming back as a free ball. This should be a two-point lead
It is
And it's that man Dimitri Miseski that provides the finishing touch
Good serve it's an ace and a set that starts and ends
Championship final of the men's ABC Champions League in Kyoto is up for grabs
Far away from that one. Well, this is the serve that caused the problems and that got them the five-point lead
Got a chance to take a point here
Particularly comfortable
Another point chance to Miseski Miseski gets the better of him again, but the ball is recycled beautifully
Ram runs it beautifully out of the back line much needed suck great defense from Sato
Good shot choice that
Brilliant absolutely brilliant continue now, you know exactly what he was doing there
Just needs to dump the ball on the tape inside
All right on the line for the mere either one he needs to just control this offense this
Movement pattern even with the errors
Stop
But it's into the crowd it's top spin ball toss float hybrid from Milos
Defending again chance to go to set point
taken
magnificently one or between our own sports club in the white and red
Oh
Brilliant blocking again, and it's Milos that has got Takahashi. He saw the pipe coming
The height and the completion of the block, but it's just as impressive in terms of the read for me
To deliver more pain for some to me
Way out of system
Swift you can do is volley it
That is superb, but it might be put on the attack line
So far
He's good
That's dig from cater on Mazars he takes the pipe and hammers it. Oh, that's brilliant volleyball
That is world-class from Kate and unworthy
Just turn the scoreboard again to get to 20, and then they're on the homeward journey
Back to ball toss much better serve great pass though
Earning things in their favor, and if they win this set if they go to one
Cut out and the miss from the mirror is immediately challenged
There is no block touch and that's not been killed up
And it's vitally important for the team in red Sun today Sunbirds Osaka
To not give up an early lead here to our round if they want to win it in four
They've got a step all over this game
Well, they try very hard
kill
Goes again
You don't often see a celebration like that from a player is it that's as good as they can get the high-speed
camera
This is a must for the team in red swifter gets his hands on it
Inside their way out to a tiebreaker the past though isn't good
Century getting themselves in all sorts of trouble what a brilliant block from a bonobo
Milosh to serve the mirrors into the front court
They've got it. They've got it under control this then the mayor for the point no food you knackers on it
Amazing stuff both sides of the neck Marcus can't beat the block
Milosh gets it to me again, and he's defended again. It's coming back
Surely now it's our Ryan's point
No, oh, you're kidding me
In
Point to win the set the mayor. Oh
He's masked it that one mrs. Kee keeps it in play, but he can't stop that
And I'll Ryan turn it around
Recovering between these two great clubs in the red suntory sunbirds Osaka
Had a 2-1 lead with three points up in the fall, but it's the team in white and red again
He does put it in the overpass defended by oh, yeah, that's not great. They got away with it. They haven't
Mia goes into the block for the reuse goes wide the masters he gets a reuse out of it
No
Bonobo serves side out required for some terrain I get it I
shunned era
Thank you, then
Puts it in with pressure Marcus passes. Well the mayor for the match. No
The ball is inside and he can't beat the block
And now Ryan just can't quite keep it together when it met
No, not to be not this time
Gives it everything and gets the ice and
Alright on sports club have pulled off a quite remarkable victory in this semi-final
