Al-Rayyan Claims Victory in AVC Final; OSAKA BLUTEON Finishes Second After Hard-Fought Battle

 

ⒸAVC

The final match of the Asia Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Men’s Volleyball Champions League Japan 2025 took place today at Shimazu Arena in Kyoto, where Qatar’s Al-Rayyan defeated OSAKA BLUTEON in straight sets (25-19, 25-22, 25-17) to claim the title. Nimir Abdel-Aziz (Al-Rayyan | NED), the Opposite who played for WOLFDOGS NAGOYA in the 2024-25 DAIDO LIFE SV.LEAGUE, was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. Despite a strong season, OSAKA BLUTEON was unable to break through Al-Rayyan’s powerful and high-reaching offense, settling for the runner-up position.

Al-Rayyan dominated from the outset. With towering attacks from Noumory Keita (MLI) and Nimir Abdel-Aziz (NED), the team steadily built a lead in the first set. OSAKA BLUTEON mounted a late surge, scoring four consecutive points including an attack from Larry IK Evbade-dan (JPN), but a service error handed the set to Al-Rayyan.

The second set remained closely contested up to 16-all, with Shoma Tomita (JPN) making key contributions for OSAKA BLUTEON through both attacks and blocks. However, Al-Rayyan pulled ahead to take the set 25–22. In the third, Al-Rayyan gained an early lead and never looked back. A six-point scoring run led by Abdel-Aziz and a decisive service ace by Keita sealed the set 25-17, and with it, the championship.

 

Nimir Abdel-Aziz, Al-Rayyan Opposite, said:
“We are really happy that we could manage to win this tournament. Three years ago, I had the chance to play this tournament also, so I know how difficult it is to win because there's a lot of high level players, high level team. So I'm really happy we could do it again. And I want to really thank everybody in Al-Rayyan. Of course, I came late to the team, but yeah, they treat me directly as one of them. I really enjoyed this week of volleyball, also I see how much this victory means for them because they always play this tournament and it's the first time they won it, so I'm really happy for them, for the coach, I think they did an amazing job, they had an amazing season because they won everything, every tournament they played and they could finish it in the best way possible and I'm happy that I could help a little bit."

 

Luis Cunha Serjio (BRA), Al-Rayyan Head Coach, said:
“It was an amazing, amazing final. The game in the beginning, everybody was a little nervous, I think, but point by point, we showed how we were strong with the team, and I am very proud of our players. We have very good players, big names in volleyball. I am very happy to work with these players. They helped us to make history. Our first time we won this championship and I am very happy. Panasonic is a very good team and the players are very good and I am very happy to be here. in Japan and doing this final with Panasonic.”

 

Miguel Angel Lopez Castro (CUB), OSAKA BLUTEON Outside Spiker, said:
"We just finished the final, and honestly, I feel very frustrated that I couldn’t help the team more or contribute to a better performance. While credit must be given to how well they played, I feel the match could have been very different. We weren’t able to do what we had been doing throughout the season, and we couldn’t impose our game. But that’s sport. The season is now over. Even though we achieved one of our goals by qualifying for the next Club World Championship, today I’m left with more of a feeling of loss than joy from qualifying. Now there’s nothing more to be done — no solution. Just keep training, keep preparing for what’s next, take a little rest now."

 

Laurent Tillie (FRA), OSAKA BLUTEON Head Coach, said:
"We lost the final, we have a lot of frustration, of course, because we wanted to play better and fight like we can, but we were not able today, but that's sport. Yesterday, we were all smiling here, today we are sad and crying, but that's emotion and we just have to try to stand up and compete. I just want to finish, I want to congratulate the Qatar's team because they played really good. It was an amazing team, very physical and smart. Qatar deserve this victory."

Meanwhile, SUNTORY SUNBIRDS OSAKA, champions of the 2024-25 DAIDO LIFE SV.LEAGUE, secured the bronze medal by defeating Foolad Sirjan Iranian, the previous Asian club champions, in the third-place match.

 

Individual Awards:

• Most Valuable Player: Nimir Abdel-Aziz (Al-Rayyan | NED)
• Best Outside Spiker: Miguel Angel Lopez Castro (OSAKA BLUTEON | CUB)
• Best Outside Spiker: Ran Takahashi (SUNTORY SUNBIRDS OSAKA | JPN)
• Best Middle Blocker: Papemachette Diagne (Al-Rayyan | QAT)
• Best Middle Blocker: Larry IK Evbade-dan (OSAKA BLUTEON | JPN)
• Best Libero: Tomohiro Yamamoto (OSAKA BLUTEON | JPN)
• Best Setter: Milos Stevanovic (Al-Rayyan | SRB)
• Best Opposite: Nimir Abdel-Aziz (Al-Rayyan | NED)

 

The Asia Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Men’s Volleyball Champions League Japan 2025 introduced a new competition format, evolving from its predecessor, the Asian Men’s Club Championship. This year’s edition brought together 12 teams from 11 countries and regions across Asia.

 

For further information about the AVC Men’s Volleyball Champions League Japan 2025, click here.