ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: There was some good news and bad as the semifinal pairings of the 39th Prime Minister’s National volleyball championship were decided on Tuesday.

The good news that emerged following the quarterfinals league at the Liaquat Gymnasium was that champions Army set up a mouthwatering clash with 15-time winners Police in Thursday’s semifinals. The bad news was that the final this time wouldn’t feature one of these heavyweight sides, who have met in 12 finals since 1958.

Both Police and Army have almost always provided colour and excitement to the championship because of the depth of experience among their ranks. So it will be sad indeed to see one of them packing up early.

The other semifinal will pit POF against Wapda who are bidding to win a fifth title as they ended Army’s unbeaten run Tuesday in a tense and hard-fought match winning 26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 20-25, 15-13.

Police appeared in a hurry, quickly dispatching POF 25-18, 25-18, 25-22 in the last game of the quarterfinals league to remain unconquered.

In other matches of the league played earlier in the day, PAF edged Punjab 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-22 with both teams bidding adieu to the championship. Navy had an easy day on court, scoring a straightforward 25-11, 25-20, 25-22 victory over NWFP but it was not enough as they too bowed out.

In what was perhaps the best match of the championship, Wapda fought tooth and nail in overcoming Army who are looking for a hat trick of titles having won the championship in 2001 in Islamabad and then again in Wah the following year.

Riding on the heroics of their players Irfan Nawaz, Abdul Rahim and Shahid Hussain, Wapda gained the initiative winning the first two games but Army struck back to take the next two. The deciding fifth game went neck and neck before Wapda won by the skin of their teeth.

For the umpteenth time in the championship, Army’s Bakhth Risal, Muhammad Elahi, Muhammad Sakhi and Zafar Iqbal worked beyond the call of duty — that their efforts went in vain was another matter.

Police, meanwhile, were simply too good for a POF side lacking imagination and perhaps proper coaching.

The last year’s losing finalists, Police quickly raced ahead to set the pattern of things to come. After winning the opening game, they maintained their ascendancy courtesy of Muhammad Tufail, libro Tariq Waseem and Sajid Nawaz, to enhance their advantage.

However, POF did well in the third game that saw the sides on an even keel at least 10 times but Police showed champion pedigree to walk into the semifinals in grand style.

The championship is off on Wednesday with the semifinals set for Thursday. The final will be played on Friday.

Results (quarterfinals league):

PAF bt Punjab 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-22; Navy bt NWFP 25-11, 25-20, 25-22; Wapda bT Army 26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 20-25, 15-13; Police bt POF 25-18, 25-18, 25-22.

Thursday’s semifinals: Wapda v POF; Army v Police.