The Qatar Volleyball Team kept their title defense alive after a nail-biting 3-2 victory against Vietnam in the quarter-finals of the 2025 AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup yesterday. The thrilling match took place at Isa Bin Rashid Hall in Manama, Bahrain.
Although Vietnam shocked the defending champions by taking the first set 31-29, Qatar regrouped quickly. In a stunning display, the volleyball team of Qatar responded with a strong 25-21 win to level the match in the second set.
Afterward, Qatar dominated the third set, securing a comfortable 25-15 victory. However, Vietnam refused to back down. They came back to win the fourth set 25-22, pushing the game into a decider.
In the final set, the Qatar Volleyball Team showed determination and composure. They pulled away late to clinch the set 15-12, earning a well-fought place in the semi-finals.
Notably, Youssef Oughlaf and Renan Ribeiro delivered standout performances. Oughlaf scored 22 points, while Ribeiro added 21 points to Qatar’s tally, reinforcing the team’s strength.
As a result, the team will now face Pakistan in the semi-finals tomorrow. This match will be a repeat of last year’s final, which Qatar won to claim the title.
Pakistan, who also topped their group, reached the semis by defeating Indonesia 3-1. Despite losing the opening set 20-25, Pakistan bounced back to win the next three sets 25-21, 25-20, and 25-17.
Meanwhile, the second semi-final will feature hosts Bahrain against South Korea. Bahrain defeated Chinese Taipei in straight sets — 25-18, 25-22, and 35-33. South Korea booked their spot after overcoming Australia 3-1, with set scores of 25-23, 25-18, 22-25, and 25-23.
In addition, classification matches for fifth to eighth places will be played today. Chinese Taipei will take on Australia, while Vietnam will meet Indonesia.
The final match of the AVC Nations Cup, which awards world ranking points, is scheduled for Tuesday. The Qatar Volleyball Team is just two wins away from back-to-back titles.
