VOLLEYBALL – BAHRAIN’S Al Ahli Club pulled off a hard-earned victory in four sets against Al Salam of Oman last night in the third West Asian Clubs Volleyball Championship for Men, currently being hosted by the kingdom.
The kingdom’s representatives took a two-set lead and then staved off a comeback from their rivals to come away with a 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 27-25) decision at Isa Bin Rashid Volleyball Arena at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
Ahli secured their second win in three matches as they bounced back from a straight-sets loss to Al Rayyan of Qatar in their previous fixture. They had earlier won their opening game against Northern Refineries of Iraq in another three-setter.
Salam, meanwhile, suffered their second loss to go with two wins from their four games so far.
“Mabrook for Salam – they are a good team and they fought until the end,” said Ahli head coach Jorge Elgueta from Argentina.
“Mabrook also to my team. It was a very difficult game. How we lost [in our previous match], to come back and to try to win, it is not easy. But they are young players still, and I hope we will continue this same way.”
Ahli have two games remaining in this league-type tournament and have no room for error in their hopes of claiming the crown.
“Every game is important, and every game is very difficult,” Elgueta noted. “But we need to prepare our minds. These kinds of competitions are not easy, but inshaallah, we will try every day and God will help us.
“We will finish this competition in the best moment.”
In yesterday’s other clash, Al Rayyan eked past Al Arabi in a thrilling all-Qatari affair that went to five sets. The two title favourites headed into the contest with unbeaten records from two outings, but in the end, it was Rayyan who maintained their pristine run so far in the competition. They battled back from a set down to win 3-2 (18-25, 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 28-26).
Tournament action continues this evening with another pair of games. At 4.30pm, Rayyan will be looking to sustain their winning ways when they face off with Northern Refineries, who have lost both their assignments to date. Ahli then take on Al Qadsia of Kuwait at 7pm as they aim for their second win in a row. Qadsia have lost all three of their fixtures so far.
In Ahli’s triumph last night, they powered to a two-set advantage behind the strong play of Mohammed Anan, Sayed Mohammed Al Abbar, Hasan Haider, Hussain Sultan, Hussain Mansoor, and professional Marko Vukasinovic from Montenegro.
But Salam showed their resilience in the third set and extended the contest to another frame. There, Ahli enjoyed an 18-12 cushion following an error by Salam’s Majid Alshibli, but the Omanis continued to battle and got to within 20-21 when Ossama Almoameri denied Haider at the net.
Salam then stunned Ahli and took a 25-24 lead, but Haider responded with a timely smash to forge another deadlock. Vukasinovic then set up match point with a spike, and a double block by Vukasinovic and Hani Allawi sealed the win for the home team.
Anan finished as Ahli’s top scorer with 18 points, 15 of which were in attack.
Following Ahli’s game with Qadsia today, they wrap up their title bid against Arabi on Saturday
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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