Beijing Baic Motor shook off early jitters and roster limitations to open its 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League campaign with a commanding straight-sets win over Saipa Tehran, 28-26, 25-22, 25-19, on Sunday, April 20, at the Philsports Arena.

Fielding only 10 players due to national team commitments, Baic Motor—the highest-ranked club in the tournament at No. 5—proved its depth and composure by outlasting Saipa in a tight opening set before pulling away in the next two frames to take an early lead in Pool C.

“We’re missing a couple of players because of the national team, so we’re trying our best and working really hard to win,” said Baic head coach Kuang Qi, speaking through an interpreter. “It’s the first match so they were a little nervous, but I’m happy with the result.”

The victory mirrored the dominance displayed earlier by Taipower in Pool B, signaling strong starts for top Asian teams.

Baic Motor’s Jin Ye turned in a stellar all-around performance, scoring 16 points off 14 attacks and 2 blocks, while also collecting 13 excellent digs and 6 excellent receptions. She was ably supported by Shan Lanfeng, who contributed 15 points and 11 digs, and Lu Yufei, who also notched 15 points with 10 digs.

Shen Hongyi and Tian Yue added 7 and 5 points, respectively, to complete Baic’s offensive spread.

After narrowly escaping the first set—thanks to Jin’s clutch cross-court hit to break a 25-all deadlock and a costly error by Saipa’s Mahsa Kadkhoda—Baic overcame a gritty challenge in the second. The Chinese squad then raced to a 14-4 start in the third, highlighted by a kill from Lu, before closing out the match in just 1 hour and 23 minutes.

Neda Chamlanian paced Saipa with 15 points and 11 digs, while Mahsa Saberi chipped in 13 points and 14 digs in a valiant but losing effort.

Baic Motor returns to action on Monday at 10 a.m. against VTV Binh Dien Long An, looking to sweep Pool C. Saipa Tehran faces the same Vietnamese club on Tuesday, also at 10 a.m., hoping to keep their tournament hopes alive.

The 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League is supported by Mikasa, Mizuno, and Grand Sport as federation partners, with additional backing from PLDT, MWell, Eagle Cement, Rebisco, Akari, Gameville, PNVF, PSC, Cignal, and The Look Group.