Cignal exits AVC Champions League after losing to China's Shanghai Bright

The Philippines' Cignal has crashed out of contention in the 2025 AVC Men's Champions League after falling prey to China's Shanghai Bright Men's Volleyball, 12-25, 21-25, 18-25, on Tuesday in Japan.

With the loss, the Filipinos bowed out with a winless 0-2 card in Pool B while the Chinese bets (1-1) joined Japanese club Osaka Bluteon (2-0) in the next round.

Cignal, though, didn't go down without a fight with the tandem of Steve Rotter and Louie Ramirez leading the offensive attack.

Opposite hitter Rotter poured in 11 points on 10 attacks and one block while Ramirez churned out 11 markers as well while also grabbing two digs and three receptions.

Cignal erased a 19-13 deficit in the second set by unleashing a 3-1 rampage led by a Joshua Retamar ace and a Rotter attack, 20-16. But the Philippine side committed back-to-back errors before making up for it with two consecutive attacks from Rotter and Ramirez, 22-18.

Jau Umandal then had a faulty service to allow the Chinese camp to take the set point at 24-19 lead before a Ramirez serve infraction saw the other side taking a two-set advantage.

Shanghai Bright then just dominated Cignal in the third frame, turning a slim 18-15 lead to a 20-15 cushion after Polish import Michael Kubiak denied youngster Ike Barilea. Outside spiker Wang Bohan then unleashed a strong spike for the match point at 24-18 before he finished it off on another kill.

Xui Chengcheng led Shanghai Bright with 15 points anchored on 11 attacks, three blocks, and one ace while Kubiak and Wang both chipped in 10 markers in the sweep win.

Osaka Bluteon will take on Nakhon Ratchasima QminC of Thailand in the quarterfinals while Shanghai Bright will face off with Foolad Sirjan of Iran.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News