VOLLEYBALL – MUHARRAQ were last night crowned champions for the second consecutive season of the His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s Cup.
Muharraq retained the prestigious trophy after roaring back from a set down to defeat Dar Kulaib 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-23 25-18) in a hotly contested final, played at a packed and rocking Isa bin Rashid Volleyball Arena at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
Muharraq overcame their early setback in the match to claim the coveted title for the 15th time in tournament history. They also handed Dar Kulaib their first and only loss of the entire 2025-26 national volleyball season, having captured the crown in the Isa bin Rashid Volleyball Arena with an unbeaten record before taking two wins in this knockout competition leading up to yesterday’s championship decider.
In attendance for the contest were Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain Olympic Committee vice-president Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) president Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.
General Sports Authority CEO Dr Abdulrahman Askar was also on hand along with officials from the BVA and the two clubs.
Shaikh Mohammed, Shaikh Isa, and Shaikh Ali presented Muharraq this year’s His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s Cup, and also gave away medals to both Muharraq and Dar Kulaib in the post-game awarding ceremony.
In last night’s clash, the two teams matched each other point for point in the first set as Dar Kulaib’s Kenyan professional Enock Mogeni hit a spike to tie the score at 17-apiece. Teammate Hasan Alwarqaa later broke a 19-all deadlock and then veteran Mahmoud Abdulwahed had a block on Muharraq’s Mohammed Omar to give them a two-point edge. That sparked a surge that helped them close out the frame, with Mogeni providing their last two points to go 1-0 up.
Muharraq then came out firing on all cylinders to begin set two, and they took a 10-5 lead on back-to-back points by Sayed Hashem Issa. Swedish import Jacob Link later put them ahead 13-6, and they continued their strong play with a Mohammed Abdulla attack that made it 20-11. Dar Kulaib tried to stay in the fight and a block out on an Alwarqaa spike got them back to within 15-21, but Muharraq powered on and levelled the match with Link supplying the decisive smash.
In the third set, Dar Kulaib were the early aggressors and five unanswered points, capped by a Mogeni ace, put them in front 10-6. Muharraq countered and successive blocks on Abdulwahed – first by Link and then by Abdulla – brought them to within 11-13. Majeed Mohammed later gave Muharraq a slim 19-18 lead, and Abdulla stopped Mogeni on the very next rally to widen the gap. That sent them on their way to finish off the frame and Link hit a powerful spike to secure their 2-1 advantage.
Muharraq rode their momentum into a dominant fourth set, where they were in control from start to finish en route to sealing the victory. They were first to double digits at 10-5 and Link later hit the ball down the line for a commanding 15-8 advantage.
Mahmood Alafyah and Omar then had a double block on Dar Kulaib’s Ali Marhoon to make it 18-10, and Muharraq never looked back.
Link scored again to make it 23-16, after which Naser Anan put them on the brink of victory with a stunner at the net. Mohammed then struck the final blow with a title-clinching spike, wrapping up their remarkable comeback.
This year’s His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s Cup began with all 14 teams under the BVA umbrella taking part. Muharraq and Dar Kulaib were both given automatic berths in the last eight after finishing as the league’s top two teams.
Last night’s final was a rematch of last year’s title clash, which Muharraq also took in four sets.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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