PGE SKRA Belchatow’s Bartosz Kurek (7) spikes the ball past Al Arabi’s blockers Mohamed Fadhel (second left) and Ahmed Abdelhay during their Pool B match at the FIVB Men’s Club World Volleyball Championship at the Aspire Zone in Doha yesterday. Kurek’s team-mate and captain Piotr Gacek (left) watches the action. Shahjahan Moidin

DOHA: Qatar’s champions Al Arabi stumbled at the first hurdle as they lost their opening Pool B match against PGE SKRA Belchatow at the FIVB Men’s Club World Volleyball Championship here yesterday.

Belchatow of Poland cruised to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-11, 25-20) success in 68 minutes at the Aspire Zone. On the inaugural day, European champions Trentino BetClic and Zenit Kazan of Russia registered victories in Pool A.

The opening set could have gone either way with the fortunes fluctuating. With 19-all, Al Arabi failed to add more points at crucial stages as the Polish team took the set 25-22. Egypt’s Ahmed Abdelhay brought in six points for Al Arabi in the opening set with attacking display.

In the second set, the men in yellow from Poland raced to 12-3 lead. And from there it was one-way traffic as they consolidated their stronghold to take the set 25-11 in 21 minutes.

The third set also belonged to Belchatow as they won with 25-20 score line. Here too, Al Arabi had their moments when being on level at 14 points apiece. But just like the previous sets, the Polish players were better in handling the pressure.

Belchatow, who are in this eight-team tournament as wildcard entrants, boast of four players with Olympics’ experience and that came in handy for them. Marcin Mozdzonek, Michal Bakiewicz (both Poland), Miguel Angel Falasca (Spain) and Stephane Antiga (France) have played in Olympics.

The home team also had two Olympians in Abdalla Ahmed (Egypt) and Tunisian Samir Al Salami.

Abdelhay played a lone hand for Al Arabi as he top-scored with 13 points for his team. For the winners, Bartosz Kurek contributed a match-high of 14.

Belchatow’s head coach Jacek Nawrocki admitted that his boys took time to get used to the Golden Formula rule.

“The Golden Formula rule was a bit of mystery for us. We did not start well in the first set. But as the match went on, we were able to do well,” Nawrocki said.

Al Arabi’s head coach Mohamed Al Bahri said it was tough competing some of the world’s best players and they were under pressure with lot of expectations.

Trentino were off to a winning start in the opening match by beating Zamalek 3-1 (25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 25-20).

The Italian giants were in top gear in the opening two sets before the Egyptian side staged a good rally in the third. However, the Italians were quick to recover from one set loss to wrap up the proceedings in 99 minutes.

Brazilian Leandro Vissotto Neves, the tallest player in the match at 212cms height, made his towering presence felt on the court by putting in a match-winning performance.

The 26-year-old was the pick of the Italian players as he contributed 25 points in the match. For the losing team, Mohamed Badawy was impressive with 27 points. But the 23-year-old’s efforts went in vain.

After having taken the first two sets easily, Trentino were stunned in the third. In the fourth too, Zamalek had held the lead for most part of the set but squandered it.

Zamalek, the African champions, were way ahead at 17-10 when their opponents bounced back. Osmany Juantorena Portuondo fired in strong serves fetching Trentino 11 successive points. In the end they took the set 25-20 and with that sealed the contest.

“It was difficult at the start to get used to Golden Formula rule. However, we got through the first two sets easily. In the third there was a lapse in concentration for our players but regrouped well in time to clinch the match in the fourth set,” observed Trentino’s head coach Radostin Stoytchev.

Zamalek’s coach Hamed El Sayed said: “We lost because of lack of experience. We started off under pressure but won one set. Ours is a young team and hopefully we can improve in the next games.”

Trentino’s line-up boasts of foreign recruits from Brazil, Cuba, Bulgaria, and France. It also includes Italian Olympian Emanuele Birarelli. For Egypt, it is a team full of homegrown players. The difference in experience is also wide and Trentino is already one of the favourites to clinch this Championship.

“Normally, we are considered as the favourites wherever we play. But with a new rule here I can’t say. We still have a good chance and hope to be in the final,” said Stoytchev.

There was a huge support for the Egyptian side and Zamalek’s captain Ashraf Bouel Hassan said he felt playing at home and thanked the fans.

“We felt at home. There were so many people who turned up today. It is nice to play here,” said the 34-year-old.

The Peninsula