Tokyo, June 10, 2012 – European champions Serbia finished the FIVB Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournament at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium with a perfect 7-0 record on Sunday. They dropped just one set in the whole tournament – to Korea. The second Olympic spot was still an open affair on Sunday morning, the last day of action, with four Asian teams – Australia, China, Iran and Japan – still in the running for the single ticket to London. Australia rolled over China 3-0 to seal the spot as Asia’s representative. It will be Australia's third time in the Games. Serbia were bronze medalists in Atlanta 1996 and won the gold medal in the Sydney Summer Games in 2000.

Serbia v Venezuela

Having qualified already, Serbia could relax and overcame Venezuela 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-23). Serbia’s top scorer was Uros Kovacevic with 14 points, while Luis Arias led Venezuela with 12 points. Serbia outblocked Venezuela 8-2 and outserved them 5-2. Serbia finished with a perfect 7-0 record, while Venezuela ended 1-6 and earned ended up in seventh place in the tournament.

Serbia coach Igor Kolakovic: “I was satisfied as our young players respected the Venezuela team. We played with good concentration and good shape. It was important to finish with this victory and now we have a new opportunity in the World League.” 

China v Australia

Australia were the second team to secure a ticket to the London Olympics with a storming 3-0 win (25-12, 25-20, 25-13) over China. Australia were led by Thomas Edgar with 15 points, while China’s top scorer was Zhang Chen with eight points. Australia outblocked China 10-1 and outserved them 5-3. China finished in fifth position in the tournament. Australia had a lively start with captain Igor Yudin and Adam While getting in some heavy hits, while China’s Liang Chunlong got some good mileage from short sets in the center.

Australia coach Jon Uriarte: “Today, we wanted to disrupt China’s offence and each rotation had specific targets to try and create problems for their offence. We still need to be more fluent and consistent in reception attack. Our block is quite good but not efficient enough, especially if we want to make the next step and challenge the top teams in the world.” 

Korea vs Puerto Rico

Korea denied Puerto Rico their last chance to pick up a win on the final day. Korea edged the Puerto Ricans 3-2 (15-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-16, 15-12). Korea ended the tournament with a 3-4 record and sixth position, while Puerto Rico finished eight, having lost all seven matches. Korea were led by Jeon Kwang-In with 18 points while Puerto Rico’s top scorer was Lozada Ezequiel Cruz with 31 points. Puerto Rico outserved Korea 6-2, and the two teams had 11 block points each. Puerto Rico committed 35 errors to Korea’s 23.

Japan v Iran

Iran beat Japan in the final match on the final day of action on Sunday. Iran edged Japan 3-0 (25-22, 35-33, 25-22) to finish with a 5-2 record. Japan dropped to 4-3. Both sides were out of the running for an Olympic berth after Australia clinched the final spot earlier in the day with a win over China. Iran were led by Amir Ghafour with 21 points, while Japan’s top scorer was Kunihiro Shimizu with 24. Iran outserved Japan 3-1 and outblocked them 10-3. Iran committed 18 errors to Japan’s 22. Japan’s Tatsuya Fukusawa was the top scorer in the tournament with a total of 107 points.

Iran coach Julio Velasco: “I want to congratulate my players because it was not easy to play this match. We were sad because we didn’t qualify for the Olympics and Japan were sad for the same reason, so we had to play for pride, for our federation, for our work. I asked the players not to be upset. I told them that playing in this atmosphere in Japan with its history of volleyball, we have to enjoy it and that’s what they did.”

LIVE SCOREBOX
DAY 7   |   JUNE 10, 2012

Highest scorer day-by-day

Points Name Team date

31 Cruz Lozada Ezequiel of Korea vs Puerto Rico 10-Jun-12

27 Park Chul-Woo of Korea vs China 7-Jun-12

22 Edgar Thomas of Australia vs Venezu. 1-Jun-12

27 Zarini Hamzeh of Iran vs China 2-Jun-12

24 Edgar Thomas of Australia vs Iran 5-Jun-12

21 Choi Hong-Suk of Australia vs Korea 9-Jun-12

18 Chen Ping of China vs Japan 6-Jun-12

Top-Scoring Performances

31 Cruz Lozada Ezequiel of Korea vs Puerto Rico 10-Jun-12

27 Zarini Hamzeh of Iran vs China 2-Jun-12

24 Simizu Kunihiro of Japan vs Iran 10-Jun-12

24 Edgar Thomas of Australia vs Iran 5-Jun-12

24 Park Chul-Woo of Korea vs China 7-Jun-12

22 Edgar Thomas of Australia vs Venezu. 1-Jun-12

21 Ghafour Amir of Japan vs Iran 10-Jun-12

21 Choi Hong-Suk of Australia vs Korea 9-Jun-12

21 Fukuzawa Tatsuya of Japan vs Korea 5-Jun-12

Top-Blocking Performances

8 Yamamura Kota of Japan vs Australia 7-Jun-12

8 Mousavi Eraghi Seyed of Iran vs Korea 1-Jun-12

6 Mousavi Eraghi Seyed of Japan vs Iran 10-Jun-12

6 Mousavi Eraghi Seyed of Iran vs Australia 5-Jun-12

6 Liang Chunlong of Korea vs China 7-Jun-12

5 Zingel Aidan of Australia vs Ven 1-Jun-12

5 Edgar Thomas of Australia vs Puerto R2-Jun-12

5 Shin Yung-Suk of Korea vs Japan 5-Jun-12

5 Zingel Aidan of China vs Australia 10-Jun-12

5 Zingel Aidan of Australia vs Korea 9-Jun-12

Top-Serving Performances

6 Mahdavi Mehdi of Iran vs Korea 1-Jun-12

5 Zhong Weijun of Venezuella vs China 9-Jun-12

4 Edgar Thomas of China vs Australia 10-Jun-12

4 Fukuzawa Tatsuya of Japan vs Venezuella 2-Jun-12

3 Edgar Thomas of Australia vs Puerto R 2-Jun-12

3 Mousavi Eraghi Seyed of Iran vs China 2-Jun-12

3 Ghaemi Farhad of Iran vs China 2-Jun-12

3 Ghafour Amir of Iran vs China 2-Jun-12

3 Paez Carlos of Venezuella vs Puerto 5-Jun-12

3 Escalante Enrique of Puerto Rico vs Iran 6-Jun-12

3 Ghaemi Farhad of Iran vs Venezuella 7-Jun-12

3 Zingel Aidan of Australia vs Korea 9-Jun-12

3 Arias Luis of Venezuella vs China 9-Jun-12

3 Zhang Chen of Venezuella vs China 9-Jun-12