Havana, December 6 (RHC) - With outstanding performances by Cuban Alain de Armas and Russian Dimitry Muserskiy, Suntory Sunbirs (Japan) defeated Halkbank Sport Kulubu (HBK, from Turkey) 3-0, in the opening match of the men's volleyball Club World Cup in Bengaluru, India.

The match, belonging to Group B, opened on Wednesday the actions of the tournament, in which 6 clubs are competing: Sunbirs, HBK, Sada Cruzeiro and Itambé (Brazil), the current champion Perugia (Italy) and the Defenders (India).

The list of clubs in the year-end volleyball tournament includes five Cuban volleyball players: in addition to the young de Armas, Wilfredo Leon and Jesus Herrera (from the current champion Perugia), Miguel Angel Lopez (Sada) and Maikel "el Ruso" Sanchez (Itambé).

De Armas, the best opposite player in the last edition of the Asian Club Championship and who competes independently from the Cuban Volleyball Federation, led his team's offense on Wednesday with 15 points, followed by the experienced Muserskiy (14).

For the Turkish HBK, the Canadian Jonh Perrin (11), the French Earvin Ngapeth (10) and the Dutchman Nimir Abdel Aziz (8) stood out.

Wednesday's match will be completed with the match between Cuban Sanchez's Itambé and the Defenders (India) in Group A.

On Thursday, the Sada of Cuban López and Brazilian Wallace will play against the Japanese Sunbirs of Cuban de Armas, and the Perugia of León and Herrera against Itambé.

The qualifying round is completed with the clashes on Friday 8 between Sada-HBK and Defenders-Perugia, the semifinals will be played on Saturday and the grand final on Sunday.

Perugia won last year in the Brazilian city of Betim thanks to Simone Gianneli (MVP and best passer of the tournament) and the Polish nationalized Cuban Wilfredo León (second best attacker).