By our correspondent
LAHORE: Pakistan on Tuesday took a solid start when they conquered spirited Philippines 3-1 in their Group C opener of the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup 2025 at the Isa Bin Rashid Hall at Manama, Bahrain.
Murad Jehan-led Pakistan had a fine start to the show as they won two back-to-back sets with 25-18, 25-12 scoreline. Pakistan in these sets played superb game in all zones and it seemed that they would win the next set to wrap-up the win.
But Philippines played tremendous game in the third set and won it 25-18 to make it 1-2. Pakistan took the first point in this set and at one stage the set was poised at 9-9. However, since then Philippines took control and displayed fine skills to keep Pakistan away from staging a fight back and won it quite convincingly to reduce the deficit.
The fourth set was also interesting and both sides were going neck in neck. At one stage the set was equally locked 22-22 and it was a real test for the Green-shirts to get an upper hand at that crucial stage. And they did well by scoring crucial points in the end to win the set 25-22 and so sealed a fine victory.
Former Pakistan captain Aimal Khan lauded Pakistan’s fine effort.
“The team did well to take a bright start,” Aimal told Nukta.
“The start of every tournament is tough but victory is victory and it will boost the morale of the team ahead of their next show against Chinese Taipei. I have seen Chinese Taipei and it’s not the sort of team which had played against us. They are missing their three to four key players who are busy in Japan league. I hope Pakistan will beat them easily to progress to the quarter-finals,” said Aimal, who has massive experience of playing in off-shore leagues.
Meanwhile Pakistan Volleyball Federation’s (PVF) Director Technical and former Pakistan captain Naseer Ahmed also hailed the winning start.
“It’s good to take a fine start,” Naseer told this correspondent.
“The big issue was that the key players did not play as per expectations and they will have to raise their game in coming matches. Pakistan did not do well in reception in the third set which unsettled them and they lost that set but the win was very important,” Naseer said.
Pakistan now will face Chinese Taipei in their next show on Thursday at the same venue.
Hosts Bahrain, Indonesia and Thailand are in Group A, Qatar, Australia and Kazakhstan form Group B while Group D contains South Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand.
Top two teams from each group will move into the top eight in the event.
