Tag: Iran

France halts Iran streak to boost Final Eight push

On: By: admin


Team France celebrates a win during VNL 2024 Week 3 game in Manila. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jean Patry led France’s bounce-back win to send Iran crashing back to earth,  25-21, 25-17, 25-20, in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3 on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Following a tough loss to Germany two days ago, Patry dropped 16 points off 13 attacks, two blocks, and an ace as the French Spikers rose to the fourth seed with a 7-3 record and solidified their Final Eight chances. 

“It was important for us to play a good game today after one day’s rest. It was important to find a new victory and continue to work for our goal to go in the Finals. We are happy, it was a great match and we worked well,”  said Patry, who also enjoyed the energy of the Filipino fans.

VNL 2024 SCHEDULE: Week 3 Manila, Philippines leg

“The Philippine fans are amazing. They are here, they like the atmosphere. They like to be in the match, they like to support, so the fans are amazing.”

Trevor Clevenot also delivered the goods for France with 12 points, while Yacine Louati added nine points.

“It was important, I think, for our confidence. It’s important after you lose to [get a] win, I think we played a good game,” Clevenot said. “The most important is three points always and we’re happy to win and we have to focus now on the next game, it will be a really difficult game so, this is the point.”

READ: VNL 2024: Germany beats France, stays in Final Eight hunt

France battles crowd darling Japan on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.

Iran’s two-game winning streak in its third straight game as Milad Ebadipour was the lone double-digit scorer with 10 points, as Amin Esmaeilnezhad, who erupted for 29 points in their win over the Netherlands, was limited to just seven points.

Iran, which slid to a 2-9 card, will wrap up its VNL campaign against Germany on Sunday at 11 a.m.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Iran turns up arena volume with second straight win

On: By: admin


Iran may not rank high among the Filipinos’ favorite teams here in Volleyball Nations League Week 3 leg at Mall of Asia Arena.

But on Thursday, the Middle Eastern squad proved to local fans that it can put on a show.

The Iranians pulled through another thrilling five-setter and overcame Nimir Abdel-Aziz’s 37-point explosion to pull off a 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-10 win in front of a loud and appreciative crowd.

“It was great. The atmosphere, we’re really so excited to play in one of the best countries for volleyball, for the fans. It was a great experience for us,” said Iran skipper Milad Ebadipour, who helped apply the finishing touches on the win and finished with 13 points.

“I hope, all season, all year, they follow volleyball. Like this year, and especially next year it’s gonna be the World Championships, the most [important] tournament after the Olympic Games. I’m pretty sure that the [arena] will be full, full of fans and you know, it’s making us feel really good to play here.”

Amin Esmaeilnezhad and Poriya Hossein powered the Iranians for its second straight victory to improve to a 2-8 record, following their 26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13 win over Team USA less than 24 hours ago.

Esmaeilnezhad poured in 29 points off 25 kills, three blocks, and an ace, while Hossein drilled 27 points including three blocks to deny Netherlands of a comeback in the fifth set.

Nothing to lose

The Iranians quickly assembled a 10-5 spread after Hossein’s big block on Abdel-Aziz. The Dutch star, though, refused to give up and cut the deficit down to three, 13-10, but Esmaeilnezhad and Ebadipour eventually sealed the triumph.

Iran battles sixth-seed team France (6-3) at 11 a.m. on Friday. Ebadipour said they will continue to make the most of the experience and play with nothing to lose.

“We lost eight games, so, nothing bad can happen to our team anymore, so we gave everything, the best. But we look forward and our young generation, I think they are starting to play [well], they’re starting to push and change our mentality,” he said. “They are young but they are professional players and most of them, they play in the best leagues in the world in Italy, in Poland, in Russia. So, they have all this experience. We all help each other, the young guys, the experienced guys. It’s making a good team, and that’s the most important.”

The Netherlands remained in the 13th place with a 3-7 record despite another offensive masterpiece by Abdel-Aziz, who fired 27 attacks, nine aces, and a block. Maarten Van Garderen backstopped him with 17 points.

Abdel-Aziz, who scored 38 points two days ago, hopes to finally get a win in Manila against Japan on Friday at 7 p.m.

Earlier, Canada earned its second straight win in Manila after dominating Germany, 25-19, 25-18, 25-21, to bolster its Final Eight chances.

Buoyed by its five-set win over fan favorite Japan two days ago, Stephen Maar and Arthur Szwarc dropped 15 points each to lift Canada to fifth place with a 6-4 record.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

“I think we did a good job in serving and passing today. Our team had pretty flawless volleyball,” said Maar after nailing 14 kills. “Germany gave some good fight in the end and I think we handled it really well, so I’m happy for the team.”

In Maar’s second time in the Philippines, he’s glad that he is now in better shape to play in front of Filipino fans.

Iran makes it back to back, beats Netherlands in 5 sets

On: By: admin


Iran celebrates a point against the Netherlands during a VNL 2024 Week 3 game in Manila. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Inspired by its breakthrough win, Iran overcame another thrilling five-setter and Nimir Abdel-Aziz’s 37-point explosion for a 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-10 win over the Netherlands in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Week 3 on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Amin Esmaeilnezhad and Poriya Hossein powered the Iranians for their second straight victory to improve to a 2-8 record following their 26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13 win over Team USA less than 24 hours ago.

Esmaeilnezhad poured in 29 points off 25 kills, three blocks, and an ace, while Hossein drilled 27 points including three blocks to deny Netherlands of a comeback in the fifth set.

VNL 2024 SCHEDULE: Week 3 Manila, Philippines leg

After missing the chance to close out, the Iranians were quick to get their act together in the fifth with a 10-5 spread after Hossein’s big block on Abdel-Aziz. The Dutch star, though, refused to give up and cut the deficit down to three, 13-10, before Esmaeilnezhad and Milad Ebadipour put on the finishing touches.

Ebadipour, who chipped in 13 points for Iran, said they are just enjoying the experience in Manila despite playing no-bearing games as they are already out of Final Eight contention.

“It was great. The atmosphere, we’re really so excited to play in one of the best countries for volleyball, for the fans. It was a great experience for us,” said the Iran skipper. “I hope, all season, all year, they follow volleyball. Like this year, and especially next year it’s gonna be the World Championships, the most [important] tournament after the Olympic Games. I’m pretty sure that the [arena] will be full, full of fans and you know, it’s making us feel really good to play here.”

READ: VNL 2024: Iran upsets powerhouse USA for first win

Iran battles sixth-seed team France (6-3) at 11 a.m. on Friday. Ebadipour said they will continue to make the most of the experience and play with nothing to lose.

“We lost eight games, so, nothing bad can happen to our team anymore, so we gave everything, the best. But we look forward and our young generation, I think they are starting to play [well], they’re starting to push and change our mentality,” Ebadipour said.

“They are young but they are professional players and most of them, they play in the best leagues in the world in Italy, in Poland, in Russia. So, they have all this experience. We all help each other the young guys, the experienced guys. It’s making a good team, and that’s the most important.”

The Netherlands remained in the 13th place with a 3-7 record after another offensive masterpiece by Abdel-Aziz, who fired 27 attacks, nine aces, and a block. Maarten Van Garderen backstopped him with 17 points. 



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Abdel-Aziz, who scored 38 points two days ago, hopes to finally get a win in Manila against Japan on Friday at 7 p.m.

Iran upsets powerhouse USA for first win

On: By: admin


MANILA, Philippines — Iran turned to Poriya Hossein and Milad Ebadipour to stun the powerhouse USA, in five sets, 26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 26-28, 15-13, and earn its first win in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Although they are no longer in contention for the Final Eight, the Iranians played their hearts out to overcome the runner-up and Olympic-bound USA and snap an eight-game skid.

Hossein drilled 23 points including the game-winning kill to end a thrilling two-hour and 21-minute duel, while Ebadipour delivered 20 points off 16 kills, three blocks, and an ace to overcome TJ Defalco’s 33-point explosion.

VNL 2024 SCHEDULE: Week 3 Manila, Philippines leg

“It was a great game. We had tough weeks in the past and we lost eight games from eight. This is the most difficult team to play in the third week, to start (the week) against USA, one of the biggest teams in the world,” said Ebadipour.

“I think we have to start to win games and today was our first game in the third week. I’m so happy to win against the biggest team like USA.”

The Iranians couldn’t close out the game in the fourth, allowing the Americans to force a decider, where the former squandered a 13-11 lead before Defalco trimmed it down to one before Micah Ma’a’s crucial service error that sent Iran to matchpoint, 14-12.

Defalco saved a point but Poriya ended the game for Iran to improve to a 1-8 record and sent USA to a 3-6 record in 12th place.

READ: Team USA has ‘mountain to climb’ as VNL unfolds in Manila

Amin Esmaeilnezhad also stepped up for Iran with 14 points including three blocks, while Alireza Moslehabadi added nine points.

Ebadipour is proud of his young teammates for holding their ground against the World No.6 USA.

“I would say I’m proud of them (Iran team). We have a really young generation as I’ve said many times. They have a really good and nice future. I’m happy for this because today, they showed in the future that they can show the best performance and they can improve a lot,” he said.

“All of them are almost under 25 years old. This is great for our national team. This is really good and today, they showed the best quality, especially in the fifth set because it is not easy to play a fifth set against USA or these kinds of teams but they showed the best quality and I’m happy.”



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Iran seeks to carry its momentum heading ito Thursday’s game against the Netherlands at 3 p.m.

Defalco poured in 30 kills, two blocks, and an ace. Setter Micah Christenson ran the plays for the USA, as Matthew Anderson had 13 points including three aces. Jordan Ewert added 10 points. 

USA has less than 24 hours before facing Brazil on Thursday at 7 p.m.