Manama, Bahrain, July 30, 2024 – Kazakhstan routed Saudi Arabia 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-19) to wrap up their preliminary round campaign on a positive note in the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship at Isa Sport City Hall C on Tuesday.
After a four-set loss to Japan followed by a five-set setback to Chinese Taipei, the Kazakhs were finally able to get over the hurdle with a determined performance in their Pool B closer.
Kazakhstan secured the first set with back-to-back points off the Saudi Arabian errors that broke a 23-all deadlock, and then made the most of their opportunities to end the game in the ensuing two sets and prevent any late comebacks from their opponents.
Vladislav Mastikhin had 16 points while Yegor Volkov added 10 for the Kazakhs in their win, while Azzam Alsubaie was the top scorer for the Saudi Arabia with 15.
The two lower-ranked teams finished third and fourth places in Pool B and will be relegated to classification round 9-16 in Pool H between Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, at the second hall, after succumbing to two straight losses, the Philippines tasted their first victory in the topflight championship in Bahrain.
The Filipinos defeated a battling Lebanon 3-0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-21) in their concluding Pool C assignment, which followed losses to China and Iran in their first two fixtures.
Luke Anton Carl Macatangay was their leading scorer with 16 points, while Lance Danielle Babon added 10 in the win.
Charbel Al Najour had 13 points to pace the Lebanese, who suffered their third loss in this stage.
Both sides will now play in classification round Pool G for 9th-16th places from Thursday to Friday.
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