VOLLEYBALL – MUHARRAQ barged into the final of the 2024-25 His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s Cup last night while Dar Kulaib extended their semi-final series against Al Ahli to a winner-take-all third game.
Recently crowned Isa Bin Rashid Bahrain Volleyball League champions Muharraq moved one step closer to securing a sensational title double this season after punching their tickets to the championship match with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-18) sweep of Al Najma at Isa Bin Rashid Volleyball Arena, located at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
The result secured Muharraq’s two-game triumph in their best-of-three final four clash against Najma. They had also won game one in a convincing three sets.
Dar Kulaib, on the other hand, lived to fight another day as they put in a fine performance against HRH the Crown Prince’s Cup holders Ahli to win 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-22).
The decisive third game between the two sides will be played on Saturday at the same venue. It will determine who will face Muharraq for the prestigious trophy.
The two finalists will then lock horns for the crown on Tuesday next week in a single-game affair. The winners will follow in the footsteps of Ahli from 2024, when they beat Muharraq in this competition’s final.
In Muharraq’s win last night, they took control from the opening set and never wavered. Naser Anan helped them secure the early advantage with an attack that could not be returned by Najma. Muharraq were also in fine form defensively, as successive triple blocks, anchored by Mohammed Omar and Swedish import Jacob Link, earned them the final two points to close out set two.
In the third, Muharraq raced out to an early lead and never looked back, once again showing their class in a big win.
Meanwhile, in Dar Kulaib’s triumph, they stepped up with their backs against the wall and did well to stay alive in their series.
Hasan Al Warqaa had a block on Ahli’s Hani Alawi to end the first set in Dar Kulaib’s favour. In the second, after both teams played to a 24-all deadlock, Croatian professional Tomislav Mitrasinovic and Hassan Alaiwi scored the next two points with a brilliant spike and a clever touch at the net, respectively, for the 2-0 advantage.
They then ended the match strong, smelling blood in the water. An Al Warqaa spike earned them match point, and then Ahli’s Sayed Mohammed Al Abbar overhit his ensuing attack to gift Dar Kulaib match point.
Ahli will be looking to set up a repeat from both last year’s HRH the Crown Prince’s Cup and their best-of-three finals clash against Muharraq in this year’s Isa bin Rashid Bahrain Volleyball League.
After winning this tournament last season, Ahli fell to Muharraq in a thrilling three-match encounter for the league championship last month.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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