Pakistan Defeats Chinese Taipei in AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup

KARACHI: Pakistan edged out Chinese Taipei in a thrilling five-set battle to win their final Group C match of the AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup, prevailing 3-2 with set scores of 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 16-25, 18-16.

Pakistan started strong, dominating the early stages and capitalizing on unforced errors by Chinese Taipei to take a two-set lead. However, Chinese Taipei mounted a spirited comeback, showcasing improved attacking play to level the match at 2-2. The decisive fifth set was a nail-biter, with Pakistan trailing 8-5 before rallying to clinch the match on their third match point, sealing a dramatic 18-16 victory.

The match featured contrasting strengths. Pakistan’s defence made the difference, outblocking their opponents 14-4, with Musawer contributing a match-high 4 blocks. Chinese Taipei held the edge in attacks (72-62) but hurt themselves with 21 attacking errors. Pakistan’s Murad Khan delivered an all-around performance with 19 points (14 attacks, 1 block, 4 service points).

With this victory, Pakistan maintained a perfect record in group play after previously defeating the Philippines. The win secures top position in Group C and sets up a quarterfinal matchup against either hosts Bahrain or Indonesia.

The match lasted 2 hours and 18 minutes. Both teams demonstrated remarkable resilience, with the final set alone featuring 8 tie scores and 4 lead changes before Pakistan finally closed out the victory.