VOLLEYBALL – DEFENDING champions Qatar powered past Australia in straight sets yesterday on the final day of preliminary round play in the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup 2025, currently being hosted by the kingdom.
Playing in the lone Pool B fixture of the competition, the Qataris showed their might against their opponents and posted a 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-22) triumph at Isa Bin Rashid Arena, located at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
Both teams were already assured places in the tournament’s quarter-finals, but Qatar head into that stage as division winners.
Also taking wins yesterday were Pakistan and South Korea, both of whom joined the Qataris on the podium in last year’s competition, also held in the kingdom, as silver and bronze medallists, respectively.
Pakistan needed to dig deep in a tough 3-2 (25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 16-25, 18-16) victory yesterday against Chinese Taipei in Pool C, while the South Koreans outclassed Vietnam 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-12) in Pool D.
All four teams were also already through to the round of eight.
In the quarters, which take place tomorrow, Qatar square off with Vietnam, Pakistan face Indonesia, South Korea take on Australia, and hosts Bahrain play Chinese Taipei.
Only one game will be held today. It will be between Thailand and the Philippines in the ninth-to-11th classification bracket, which also involves New Zealand. The contest is scheduled for a 7pm start at the same venue. All are welcome to attend. Entry is free.
In Qatar’s win, they were the aggressors in the first two sets but the Australians fought back hard in the third. Late in the frame, the Qataris overcame a three-point deficit and never looked back, charging forward to secure the sweep.
“It was a little bit difficult in the beginning, but we tried our best to catch up with them because we’ve had four days here and we didn’t play any games, so today was like the first step to get into the competition, but it was good,” Qatar middle blocker Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim said.
“We have ambitions to keep the title. We will try our best, but we will take things day by day, game by game. We will see how it will go.”
Outside hitter Raimi Wadidie had 14 points to pace the Qataris, while Ibrahim added 10.
Outside hitters Sam Flowerday and Lorenzo Pope scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the Australians.
In Pakistan’s triumph, they powered to a two-set advantage but Chinese Taipei did not go down without a fight, roaring back and forcing a decisive fifth set.
There, the victors banked on their superb blocking and turned a 10-11 deficit to a 13-11 edge. Chinese Taipei managed to stretch the tie-break for a nail-biting finish, but Pakistan finally took the match with another impressive defensive stop.
“We did great in the first two sets but Chinese Taipei are a very good team and they started playing really well after that,” said Pakistan skipper Murad Jehan, who played in this past season’s Isa bin Rashid Bahrain Volleyball League with Al Nasser. “In the end, we thankfully got the win.
“In most of our games, we win the first two sets and then relax, then we have to pay for that and go for the fifth set – we are working on this.
“Being first in our group gives us motivation but we still need to work on some things. We are ready for any team. We just need to play our game – we know we are at a good level and we just need to keep it until the end.”
Four players finished in double figures for the Pakistanis, who advance to the quarters as Pool C winners. They were led by opposite spiker Murad Khan who had 19 points, while Jehan scored 15. Middle blocker Musawer Khan added 13, including four on blocks, while outside hitter Usman Faryad Ali had 10.
Opposite spiker Yu-Sheng Chang put in a sensational effort as he tried to lift Chinese Taipei with 36 points. Outside hitter Yi-Kai Wen added 19 in their narrow defeat.
South Korea followed suit with their convincing victory against Vietnam to top the table in Pool D.
They had control of the game from the start and cruised in the last set for the big win.
“I’ve been in Asian volleyball for a long time, and I always say to my teams, we need to play every match as a final,” said South Korea head coach Issanaye Ramires, who was formerly in charge of Bahrain’s senior men’s squad.
“Vietnam gave us a hard time today – they were tough in the first and second sets, but in the end, our strategies worked, and now we go for the next phase.
“It doesn’t matter what we did until now. We have another final, we need to prepare everything.
“We wish to go to semi-finals, our players deserve that, but need to prove it on the court. We need to prepare now for our Australia game.”
Opposite spiker Donghyeok Im finished with 12 points for the South Koreans, while outside hitters Subong Heo and Jihan Kim chipped in with 11 markers apiece.
Outside hitters Nguyen Van Quoc Duy and Ngoc Thuan Nguyen were Vietnam’s top scorers, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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