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| November 2, 2001 | Friday | Shaba’an 15, 1422 |
PAF overpower POF by the skin of their teeth
ISLAMABAD, Nov 1: In one of the most engrossing matches yet of the 37th Royals National Volleyball Championship, PAF had to draw all their energies to overcome a fighting POF on another busy day at the Liaquat Gymnasium Thursday.
The PAF side were given the scare of their lives by their rivals who just did not seem to give in and fought tooth and nail before eventually losing in five sets, the first game of the championship that went the distance.
The 25-23, 22-25, 15-25, 25-22, 15-11 scoreline reflected well how the story unfolded in a match that had the handful of spectators on the edge of their seats.
After what was a hard day’s work, the consolation for POF was that despite the defeat, they went through to the quarter-final league along with PAF.
Other teams to qualify for the league were defending champions Wapda, Army, Navy, Police, NWFP and Punjab.
Wapda kept their defence of the title firmly on track as they roared past Punjab in straight sets winning 25-21, 25-18, 25-17 in the day’s opening match while Army beat PTCL 25-18, 25-18, 25- 17 to stay unbeaten in the competition after three games.
Other victors Thursday were Navy who had no difficulty in their match against UGC whom they whipped 25-15, 25-13, 25-16 for their second win in three outings and Pakistan Boards chalking up their maiden victory with a 25-10, 25-22, 25-12 walloping of winless Balochistan.
Police, tipped favourites for the title along with Army, blanked NWFP 25-19, 25-15, 25-19 without much problems.
In the quarter-final league which kicks off Friday, Wapda will play NWFP with Army meeting POF and Punjab up against Police and PAF facing Navy.
The PAF and POF match had all the ingredients of a quality clash in which Air Force banked on the powerful smashes of Alamgir and middle blocker Mushtaq and the quick attacks of Saeed. The trio played their part exceptionally well.
The POF boys on the other hand showed nerves of steel and bounced back after conceding the first set to take the next two and make a match of it. And they nearly took the fourth set which stood level at 5-5, 13-13, 15-15 and a little later POF trailed by just a point at 22-23 before PAF wrapped up the set.
But POF left gaping holes in defence which allowed their opponents to get on top in the decisive fifth set. After PAF had raced to a quick lead, POF did well though to pull level at 8-8 from where the match slipped away from them.
POF were powered by smashers Sajjad Khan, Tariq Khan and Sanaullah and setter Muhammad Aslam, all of whom worked hard to help their side almost snatch what would have been a remarkable victory.
Results:
Wapda bt Punjab 25-21, 25-18, 25-17; Army bt PTCL 25-18, 25-18, 25-17; Navy bt UGC 25-15, 25-13, 25-16; Pak Boards bt Baluchistan 25-10, 25-22, 25-12; Police bt NWFP 25-19, 25-15, 25-19; PAF bt POF 25-23, 22-25, 15-25, 25-22, 15-11.
Friday’s fixtures (quarter-final league):
Wapda v NWFP at 1000 hrs; Army v POF 1100 hrs; Police v Punjab 1600 hrs; PAF v Navy 1730 hrs.
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