Swehly Misrata claim Libya’s championship and cup titles within the same week
Champions crowned in Malta (for women) and the Philippines (for men and for women)
Men’s cup laureates emerge in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
LIBYA
Swehly Misrata lifted the men’s Libyan league trophy on Monday, 6 May, and the national cup trophy on Thursday, 9 May, thus registering a season’s golden treble along with the Arab Club Championship crown.
Swehly are the Libyan champions for the third season in a row and are now the single most decorated club in the competition with 12 league titles. They amassed 12 points in the end-of-season five-team round-robin playoffs by winning all four of their matches. Swehly registered 3-1 victories over Al-Ahly Benghazi, Al Naser Benghazi and Ittihad Misrata, and saw off Aljazeera Zuwara in straight sets. Al Naser finished second with seven points, same as third-placed Al-Ahly, but with a superior set ratio. Ittihad emerged fourth with four points, while Aljazeera settled for fifth without a point after losing all their matches.
Al Naser’s outside hitter Mohamed Mousa was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). His teammate Anas Al-Wadani was recognized as the Best Attacking Middle Blocker. Ittihad’s Abdul Qader Shalqam took the Best Attacker award, while Al-Ahly’s Saleh Zaka was honoured as the Best Defending Libero. The remaining individual awards went to Swehly’s players: Abdul Rahman Daghdna for Best Setter, Mohammed Al-Ghoul for Best Blocker, Muhammad Qarwash for Best Server, Abdul Salam Balrous for Best Receiver and Fouad Al-Marouq for Best Receiving Libero.
Swehly players and officials pose with the trophy after being crowned the 2023-2024 Libyan league champions (Photo credits: LVBF)
In Thursday’s Libya Cup final, Swehly mastered a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 26-24) home victory over Al Naser to collect their fifth trophy in the history of the competition. Swehly’s opponent in the trophy showdown was determined on the previous day in the single semifinal match played in Misrata between Al Naser and Aljazeera, with the squad from Benghazi celebrating a narrow 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 23-25, 25-22, 15-13) win.
Swehly players and staff greet their fans on the stands after winning the 2024 Libya Cup (Photo credits: LVBF)
MALTA
Defending champions Swieqi Phoenix Nium triumphed at the end of Malta’s Superleague, celebrating their third women’s national title. The five-team triple round-robin league ended last Tuesday, 7 May, and despite suffering their first loss of the season, Swieqi Phoenix Nium topped the final standings on an 11-1 win-loss record and 33 points. The silver went to this season’s national cup winners Falcons Cospicua. They finished second on 9-3 and 29. Third-placed Flyers Balzan earned the bronze on 6-6 and 20.
Swieqi Phoenix Nium’s team roster
PHILIPPINES
Cignal HD Spikers Manila won the championship series in the Philippines’ men’s Spikers’ Turf Open Conference. This win saw them snatch their second consecutive Open crown and seventh overall conference title, further solidifying their reputation as a premier volleyball team in the country. Facing Criss Cross King Crunchers Manila in the final playoff, Cignal won both matches at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in the Phillippines capital last week. On 8 May, they produced a 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19) victory and followed up with a hard-fought 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-21) sweep of the second match on Friday. PGJC Navy Sealions Manila took the bronze on point ratio after exchanging four-set victories with D'Navigators Iloilo in the third-place series.
Criss Cross’s outside hitter Jude Garcia was honoured with the MVP award. Setter Cian Silang (Cignal), opposite Francis Saura (D'Navigators), outside hitters Jau Umandal (Cignal) and Greg Dolor (PGJC Navy), middle blockers Peter Quiel (PGJC Navy) and Rash Nursiddik (D'Navigators), and libero Jack Kalingking (PGJC Navy) were named on the Dream Team.
Cignal HD Spikers Manila’s team roster
With an official number of 23,162 fans on the stands at Quezon City’s Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday (pictured in the main photo; credits: Premier Volleyball League), a five-set battle ended the way of Creamline Cool Smashers Pasig. After a 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11) rollercoaster win over Choco Mucho Flying Titans Quezon City, they closed the final playoff at 2-0 in wins, claiming their third straight All-Filipino Conference crown and solidifying their reign with an eighth championship in the Premier Volleyball League. In the first match of the championship series, played on Thursday in front of 17,457 spectators at the same venue, Creamline produced a 3-1 (24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16) win. Earlier on the same two days at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the matches of the third-place playoff took place. Petro Gazz Angels Manila and Chery Tiggo Crossovers Manila exchanged five-set victories and the bronze went to Petro Gazz Angels on a superior tie-breaker score.
Angels’ 26-year-old Filipino-American outside hitter Brooke Van Sickle took the MVP award. The Dream Team was composed of setter Kyle Negrito (Cool Smashers), opposite Aiza Pontillas (Angels), outside hitters Cherry Rondina (Flying Titans) and Jessica Galanza (Cool Smashers), middle blockers Jeanette Panaga (Cool Smashers) and Madeleine Madayag (Flying Titans), and libero Tonnie Ponce (Flying Titans).
Creamline Cool Smashers Pasig’s team roster
SAUDI ARABIA
Ittihad Jeddah won Saudi Arabia’s Elite Volleyball Cup for the first time in their history after a dramatic 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-21) win over Al-Hilal Riyadh in the final showdown of the tournament at home on Thursday. Al-Ahli Jeddah took the bronze following a 3-1 (25-21, 25-16, 16-25, 25-21) victory over Al-Ibtisam Qatif in the third-place match. Saudi Arabian Volleyball Federation President Khaled Al-Zughaibi presented the trophy to the winners. Ittihad’s 39-year-old Colombian opposite Liberman Agamez was honoured as the tournament’s MVP.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai triumphed as United Arab Emirates Cup winners after claiming a 3-1 (21-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-23) victory over Al Ain Abu Dhabi in Sunday’s final at the Al Jazira hall in the UAE capital. They were awarded in the presence of United Arab Emirates Volleyball Association President Abdulla Juma Aldarmaki. In Wednesday’s semifinals, Shabab Al-Ahli swept their encounter with Hatta Dubai in straight sets, while Al Ain delivered a four-set win over Al Wasl Dubai.
Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai’s team roster