HO CHI MINH CITY (VNS)— Duc Long Gia Lai from Viet Nam yesterday lost 25-20, 20-25, 25-22, 18-25, 13-15 to Al-Zahra of Lebanon.

The defeat came in the first Group B match of the Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship in the Philippines.

It is the first time a Vietnamese club is taking part in a continental-level tournament. Duc Long Gia Lai are the national champions.

The other teams of the group are defending champions Matin Varamin of Iran who defeated No 5 seed Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler of Japan 3-1 yesterday.

Duc Long Gia Lai will next play Matin Varamin.

The championship, where 16 teams are participating, has been divided into four groups and is being held in Pasay from April 8 to 16. The champions will qualify for the Volleyball Men's Club World Championships, to be held in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, as Asia's representatives. — VNS