Dar Kulaib go down fighting against Qatar’s Rayyan

TDT | Manama                                        

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Dar Kulaib suffered a narrow 2-3 (25-22, 15-25, 25-23, 12- 25, 13-15) loss to Al Rayyan of Qatar last night in their second game of the first West Asia Men’s Club Championship, currently being played in Amman, Jordan.

The Bahraini representatives were dealt their first defeat in the tournament after opening with a clean sweep of Shabab Nabi Ilyas from Palestine in Group B.

The competition is being organised and run by the West Asia Volleyball Association and it is scheduled to take place until March 18.

Dar Kulaib are the lone Bahraini side competing.

Argentinian professional Juan Barrera was their top scorer in the loss, finishing with 18 points.

Naser Anan, signed from Al Ahli for this competition, added 13 points.

Dar Kulaib are coached by Brazilian Leandro Kakaroto.

They, Rayyan and Shabab Nabi Ilyas are in the same pool as South Gas SC of Iraq and Shabab Al Hussein of Jordan.

The Bahrainis return to the playing court tomorrow to play South Gas before facing Shabab Al Hussein in their final group fixture on Monday.

Group A consists of Kuwait SC of Kuwait, Police SC of Qatar, Almeena VC of Yemen, Oman SC of Oman and home team Al Wehdat.

Following a single round-robin, the top four teams in each group march through to the tournament’s quarter-finals, which will be held in the knock-out system.