Their opponents in Monday’s title match will be defending champions Wapda, who had little trouble in going past PAF in straight sets 25-19, 25-10, 25-13.
Army, chasing their 11th national title here, were given an early indication of what lay in store as Police took the first set 25-21 and continued to fight bravely in the subsequent sets. However Army clung on to take the next three sets 25-21, 27-25, 26-24 and set up what will be a repeat of last year’s final against Wapda.
Although Army went through, the Police side showed why they have been national champions for 14 times as they fought tooth and nail for each point from start to finish.
It was for the first time in the championship that Army were tested but kept their nerves to clinch victory in a match that clearly seemed headed into the fifth set after Police led a good chunk of the fourth set.
With the set level at 13-13, Police broke clear and were always ahead till 20-19 before Army, powered by sizzling smashes of Bakht Rasal and intelligent play from Sakhi and Elahi, pulled level. But fortunes then fluctuated as a hot battle ensued for every point.
The dramatic last minutes saw the set on level terms at 22- 22, 23-23 and then 24-24 before Army snatched two successive points to win the match that was worthy of a final.
Police, who will now play PAF in the third place playoff on Monday, were helped in their marvellous bid by spiker Tufail and Eshan Tipu, both displaying a remarkable game.
The first semi-final however was in stark contrast as Wapda after facing a bit of a challenge in the first set whipped PAF in the other two.
PAF were let down by poor reception of their players who just did not put in the kind of efforts that had seen them score victories earlier on in the competition.
The architects of Wapda victory were spikers Shahid Khan and Abdul Rahim and setter Nawaz, all of whom are internationals.
Both Army and Wapda have remained unbeaten here as they head into the final which promises to be a tense and exciting affair. Wapda, will be bidding to win their fifth national crown after having been champions in 1982, ’83, ’98 and 2000.
Results (semi-finals):
Wapda bt PAF 25-19, 25-10, 25-13; Army bt Police 21-25, 25-21, 27-25, 26-24.
Monday’s fixtures: Third place playoff: Police v PAF; Final: Wapda v Army (4.30pm).