Dar Kulaib edge past Najma in thriller

TDT | Manama                                                    

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Defending champions Dar Kulaib made a winning start last night to the Top Six in the 2023/2024 Isa bin Rashid Bahrain Volleyball League. Dar Kulaib posted a come-from-behind 3-1 (29-31, 25-20, 34-32, 25-23) victory over last season’s losing finalists Al Najma.

It was a marathon encounter between the two title-contenders with the game running for more than two-and-a-half hours at Isa bin Rashid Arena at Isa Sports City in Riffa. After narrowly losing the first set, Dar Kulaib roared back in the second and tied the proceedings on a Mahmoud Abdulwahed spike.

Najma then went ahead early in the third but Dar Kulaib clawed their way back. Both teams lost a number of setpoints late on until a double block between Mohammed Yaqoob and Hassan Abbas on Najma’s Swedish professional Jacob Link secured the hardearned 2-1 advantage.

Dar Kulaib then rode their momentum into the fourth set, and sealed the win with another brilliant defensive play at the net. Also playing key roles for Dar Kulaib were Hassan Alaiwi, Ali Habib and Abdulla Mohammed; while amongst Najma’s other top performers were Fadhel Abbas, Hassan Dhahi, Hussain Mahdi and Mahmood Hassan.

Dar Kulaib qualified for the league’s Top Six after finishing first in Group A of the preliminary round with an undefeated record in six games. Najma, meanwhile, won four of their six assignments in Group B to eke into this phase. Top Six action continues tonight with Al Ahli taking on Muharraq at 6.30pm.

On Sunday next week, Najma are back in action against Muharraq, while Dar Kulaib take on Al Nasser. Al Ahli then face Nabih Saleh on Monday next week.

This stage of the league will be held in a double round-robin. The first round continues until the first week of next month, with the second round still to be scheduled by the Bahrain Volleyball Association.