ISLAMABAD, Dec 26: It wasn’t the kind of final that was expected. Wapda did it in three games and just about an hour, downing Army for the second time in four days - the victory this time coming with a crown - the 39th Prime Minister’s National Volleyball Championship.

Wapda, had their eyes set on what was their fifth national title since 1958, after their stunning five-game quarterfinals victory over the defending champions on Tuesday. This time though they did not have to go the extra mile for a 25-20, 25-20, 25-15 win achieved at the Liaquat Gymnasium.

For Army, there were lessons to be learnt from that quarterfinals defeat. They did not go back to the drawingboard, so it seemed, and crashed much to the dismay of their fans who had streamed in to watch what would have been Army’s hat-trick of national titles.

Wapda captain Irfan Nawaz, as he had done so many times on way to the final, shone again as did Shahid Hussain, Abdul Rahim and Munib Ahmed who ensured victory and with it another distinction - of remaining unbeaten in the championship.

Earlier in the day, POF surprised Police in the third place play-off to leave the fancied cops wondering that favourites after all do not always win. As the scoreline of 25-20, 25-27, 28-30, 25-23, 15-13 suggests, it was a real cracker.

All eyes though were on the final that saw Wapda make a hiccups-laced start, falling 3-9 behind. But showing champion qualities, they quickly got their act together and pulled level at 10-10 surprising the rival camp. A see-saw encounter followed with scores at par four times, the last at 15-15 after which Wapda broke away to take the game.

The second game also followed a similar pattern as the first. Wapda trailed early on only to hit back and tie the scores at 10- 10 after which a neck and neck struggle ensued. However, Wapda, propelled by some good blocking and spiking then raced away to enhance their advantage to 2-0 in the match.

Army, winners of the national championship 10 times, were expected to come back strongly and make a match of it. But that was not to be as they were let down by their trusted players Muhammad Elahi, Bakht Risal and Zafar Iqbal. Wapda looked simply too good in the decisive game in which they almost led from start to finish, to shatter whatever hopes Army had.

Army’s coach Qaiser Mustafa said that his side were outclassed in all departments. “Our reception and serving was particularly poor while Wapda did tremendously well and deserved to win.”

Meanwhile, in Thursday’s semifinals, Wapda had scored a 25- 22, 18-25, 25-14, 25-17 victory over POF while Army knocked out 15-time winners Police 25-22, 25-21, 25-22.

Results (Final):

Wapda bt Army 25-20, 25-20, 25-15 Semifinals (Played Thursday): Wapda bt POF 25-22, 18-25, 25-14, 25-17, Army bt Police 25-22, 25-21, 25-22.