ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: Defending champions Army and Police continued to march on majestically in the 39th Prime Minister’s National Volleyball Championship with straight games victories at the Hamidi Hall on Sunday.

Army, bidding to complete a hat trick of national titles, were straightforward winners against NWFP 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 in the first match of the day.

Having won the championship in 2001 in Islamabad and then again in Wah last year, Army had already made the quarterfinal league on Saturday. With their latest win on Sunday, the champions remained unbeaten in the competition, following up their victories over Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Sindh.

Also without a defeat were Police, losing finalists of the last two championships and again serious contenders for the crown this time. They blew AJK off court in quick time 25-14, 25-13, 25-14 to join Army in the quarters league.

Other slots in the league were taken by NWFP, who despite losing to Army still went through and Punjab who got a walkover against Railways who are absent from the championship. Navy and POF also advanced as did Wapda. The last place was most likely to be taken by PAF, who were to play new-comers Islamabad in a late match.

In Sunday’s other games, PTCL scored their first win in three days defeating Pakistan Boards 25-17, 25-21, 25-17 while HEC also scored their maiden win as they overcame a stubborn Sindh in the first five-game match of the championship. Beaten by Army and NWFP earlier on, HEC carved out a 26-24, 25-19, 22-25, 23-25, 15- 11 win.

Meanwhile Wapda, chasing their fifth title edged Navy in a hard-fought match that too went the distance. Exceptional play by both sides left the spectators on the edge of their seats before Wapda achieved a 23-25, 25-17, 27-25, 22-25, 15-13 victory to remain unconquered.

Irfan Nawaz, Shahid Hussain, Sajjad Ali and libro Liaquat Munir excelled in victory while Azhar Mahmood, Tariq Mahmood, Muhammad Mushtaq and booster Altaf Hussain shone for the losers.

With the preliminary round of the championship having come to a close, the two-day quarter-final league will begin from Monday. After a rest day on Wednesday, both the semifinals will be played on Thursday. The final is to be held Friday.

Results:

Army bt NWFP 25-18, 25-19, 25-18, Police bt AJK 25-14, 25-13, 25-14, Punjab w/o Railways, PTCL bt Pak Boards 25-17, 25-21, 25-17, HEC bt Sindh 26-24, 25-19, 22-25, 23-25, 15-11, Wapda bt Navy 23-25, 25-17, 27-25, 22-25, 15-13.

Played Saturday: Navy bt Pak Boards 25-16, 25-13, 25-12, Punjab bt Balochistan 25-6, 25-6, 25-6.