VOLLEYBALL – Bahrain added to its sporting legacy last night after capturing the coveted title in the 23rd Arab Men’s Volleyball Championship, which came to a close in the kingdom.
The Bahrainis made the most of homecourt advantage and secured the crown with a resounding 3-1 (25-17, 25-18, 21-25, 25-16) victory against continental powerhouses Qatar at a packed and rocking Isa bin Rashid Volleyball Arena at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
The senior men’s squad secured the winners’ trophy for only the third time in the tournament’s history. They were also Arab champions in 1992 and 2008.
“This is a great moment for us!” Bahrain head coach Jorge Elgueta from Argentina told the GDN following last night’s victory. “We worked so hard these past three months as we knew this kind of championship, especially with teams like Qatar and Tunisia and all the others, will be very hard. Every game was tough.
“But after many years, we were able to take the championship at home, and I am very happy for the players and for the association. They trusted me and to get the result for Bahrain makes me so proud.”
Presenting the winners and runners-up their respective trophies and medals in the awards ceremony, held after yesterday’s final, were Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) president and Arab Volleyball Association chief Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, General Sports Authority CEO Dr Abdulrahman Askar, Asian Volleyball Confederation president Ramon Suzara from the Philippines, BVA secretary general Feras Al Helwachi, and other BVA and regional volleyball officials.
Joining the Bahrainis and Qataris in the podium ceremonies were Tunisia, who clinched the bronze medals after beating Oman 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-22) in the game for third place.
Four Bahrain players also came away with individual awards. Mohammed Yaqoob was honoured as the tournament’s Best Scorer, while Nasser Anan was named Best Right-Side Hitter, Hani Ali was selected as Best Middle Hitter, and Abbas Abdullah was named Best Libero.
Other awardees were Borislav Georgiev of Qatar as Best Player, Youssef Oughlaf, also of Qatar, as Best Outside Hitter, Papemaguette Diagne of Qatar as Second-Best Middle Hitter, and Mohammed Ali Ben Othmen of Tunisia as Second-Best Right-Side Hitter.
Yaqoob and Ali Ebrahim combined for 45 of Bahrain’s points in last night’s gold medal game. Yaqoob led the way with 25 and Ebrahim added 20, while Anan scored 12 and Ali had eight for the hosts. Mohammed Jassim chipped in with five points in the victory while Mohammed Anan added four.
“It was a very difficult final tonight, but we pressed them until the end,” Elgueta explained. “My players never lost focus. They stayed calm throughout.
“It was in our dreams to win the Arab championship and we have done it.”
For the Qataris, who were victors in this year’s AVC Challenge Cup for Men which was also played in the kingdom, Oughlaf had 14 points while Osman Abdulwahid contributed 11 points. Diagne finished with 10.
Bahrain were the early aggressors in the match and a dominant showing in the second set gave them a comfortable 2-0 advantage.
Qatar, however, did not go down without a fight and strong play from Diagne in the third kept them in the running. Oughlaf supplied the set-winner to extend the match to a fourth frame.
There, Bahrain were not to be denied as they turned a slim, 6-4 lead to a commanding 9-4 advantage and never looked back. A Yaqoob attack put them in front by double digits at 18-8, and they did well to close out the game out from there.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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