RAAJIV TRIPATHI

DOHA AL Arabi Club regained the Heir Apparent Volleyball Cup after a twoyear gap on Friday in a game played on its own court. It crushed Al Ahli Club’s title dreams with a 25-15 25-23 25-15 win amid cheers from a vocal crowd which packed the stadium.

Smarting under two successive losses in the final to Al Rayyan, Arabi vented its frustration on Ahli, who reached the final after 11 years, overcoming the holder in the semi-final play-offs.

Italian world champion club Trentino’s star Osmany Juantorena, Ivan Miljkovic, Ibrahim and setter Syed Juma exhibited different attacking combinations to rattle their opponents early on. Thereafter, Arabi kept on the pressure till it secured the crown and the purse of QR300,000. The team also earned QR40,000 for the club.

Both Syed Juma (Qatari category) and Juantorena (pro category) were adjudged the best and pocketed $1,000 each. For Ahli, the first Cup final after such a long gap proved too much to handle and it was not allowed to settle at all.

Salvador and Yasser clinched most of the team’s points. Eventually, it had to settle for the runner-up spot and QR150,000 prize money. Its club also earned QR200,000 from the Qatar Volleyball Association as game development money.

QVA President Khalid Ali al Mawlawi presided over the colourful closing ceremony and gave away the trophy and medals. Also present on the occasion were sponsors Qatar National Bank and Suliman Bros officials.

Al Arabi coach Adel Sennoun was delighted to end the losing streak in the final. “I’m quite delighted with the team’s performance. It was a real professional team effort by the players.

Juantorena and Miljkovic were, of course, quite influential at the court. I have to say that setter Syed Juma also played superbly along with Ibrahim, libero Renan Ribiero and JumaFaraj.

“We have won three titles this season (Federation Cup, League and HA Cup) and now we’ll go for the sweep in the Emir Cup. We’ve to stay focussed and play like we have been doing till now,” added Sennoun.

Syed Juma, who intelligently set the play for Miljkovic, Juantorena and Ibrahim, especially the short balls for the last named player, was the key to Arabi’s success. “I’m glad that we finally won the HA Cup. I want to thank all my players for their support.