VOLLEYBALL – Al Ahli maintained their winning ways last night in the Top Six stage of the 2024-25 Isa Bin Rashid Bahrain Volleyball League.
Ahli eked out a come-from-behind victory in five sets against Nabih Saleh to keep their undefeated record intact at Isa bin Rashid Arena, located at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
Ahli had a strong start but Nabih Saleh roared back to take a slim 2-1 advantage. But their opponents showed why they are atop the standings, forcing the tie-break where they flexed their muscles to come away with the hard-earned result.
The game got the eighth week of action underway in the Top Six, and it was Ahli’s eighth straight win to cement their hold on first place as they eye the fast-approaching Golden Square semi-finals.
Ahli have a commanding lead over the other title hopefuls on the table. Nabih Saleh suffered their fifth defeat in eight matches but put up a valiant fight in yesterday’s affair.
Ahli needed to battle hard in the first set as both sides came out of the gate firing. After playing to a 22-all deadlock, French professional Joachim Panou sparked a strong finish for Ahli, hitting a spike to put them ahead. A double block by Hani Alawi and Sayed Mohammed Al Abbar then made it 24-22, and after Nabih Saleh saved a set point, Al Abbar delivered the decisive attack for the 1-0 advantage.
In the second, Nabih Saleh stepped it up and took quick control. Behind the strong play of Mohammed Jassim, Emad Salman, and Jaffar Radhi, among others, they were first to double digits and then extended their advantage to 19-12, never wavering to tie the match at a set apiece.
Nabih Saleh rode their momentum into the third but Ahli stayed close. Nabih Saleh broke a 20-all tie and later Panou overhit a smash to gift Nabih Saleh the 2-1 lead.
Ahli then turned things around in a dominant fourth set, which they ran away with to head into the fifth and decisive frame with the momentum. There, they came up with the big plays and were up by four points at the switch. They didn’t allow Nabih Saleh any opportunity to get back into their groove, and finally sealed the victory with a 3-2 (25-23, 17-25, 21-25, 25-16, 15-11) score line. Ali Ebrahim supplied the match-clinching attack.
Also contributing to Ahli’s win were Hasan Haider, Mahmood Hasan, Hussain Mansoor, Hussain Sultan, and Ayman Harwana.
Top Six action continues tonight with one game on the card to wrap up round eight. Two-time defending champions Dar Kulaib face off with Al Najma at 9pm.
The ninth week of this stage in the league will then be held on Friday and Saturday, after which the last two game days before the Golden Square will be held on April 3 and 4.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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