The semifinal matchups are locked in at the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup. Host nation Bahrain will battle Korea, while Qatar and Pakistan gear up for a highly anticipated rematch of the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup final.
In a pulsating quarterfinal showdown, Qatar edged out a determined Vietnam in a five-set thriller: 3-2 (29-31, 25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 15-12). Leading the way was Qatar outside hitter Youssef Oughlaf, who notched 22 points. He was supported by Ribeiro Renan with 21, Raimi Wadidie with 19, and middle blocker Belal Nabel Abunabot, who was a defensive wall with eight kill blocks.
Pakistan, meanwhile, overcame a rocky start to defeat Indonesia 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-17). Captain Murad Jehan led from the front with 20 points, while Usman Faryad Ali contributed 16. Superior blocking (16-7) and capitalizing on opponent errors helped Pakistan secure their semifinal berth.
In another compelling encounter, Korea fended off Australia with a strong team performance, winning 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 22-25, 25-23). Subong Heo top-scored for Korea with 18 points.
Bahrain, backed by a roaring home crowd, swept Chinese Taipei in straight sets: 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 35-33). Opposite Ali Khamis Ebrahim led the scoring with 17 points, supported by Mohamed Yaqoob (15) and Mohamed Abdulla (10).
The semifinals are set for Monday:
- Bahrain vs Korea – 16:30 local time (13:30 UTC)
- Pakistan vs Qatar – 19:00 local time (16:00 UTC)
Both matches will be broadcast live on VBTV.
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