Author: Sahil Jain
Last year’s European champions VakıfBank advanced to the final of the CEV Champions League for the ninth time by beating Fenerbahce Opet 3-0 in the second leg of the semi-finals. The yellow-black team won the golden set 15-12 to secure the victory.
In the semi-final, VakıfBank faced a tough opponent in Fenerbahçe Opet. Despite losing the first game 3-0 at home, VakıfBank managed to recover and win the rematch by the same score, taking the match to a golden set. The yellow-black team then sealed their place in the final by winning the deciding set 15-12.
The match began with Fenerbahçe Opet taking the lead early on, but VakıfBank managed to turn the game around and win the set 25-22 with seven blocks. The second set saw VakıfBank take control from the start and win comfortably with a score of 25-14. The last set was tight, but VakıfBank kept their cool and won 25-22, taking the match to a golden set.
Paola Egonu was VakıfBank’s top scorer with 21 points, followed by Gabi with 18 points. Kara Bajema was named the game’s most valuable player after scoring 13 points. Chiaka Ogbogu also contributed 10 points to the team’s victory.
The match took place at the Vestel Burhan Felek Volleyball Hall, with Paul Catelin Szabo Alexi and Nurper Özbar acting as referees. The sets were 22-25, 14-25, 22-25, 12-15, and the match lasted 25 minutes, 22 minutes, 25 minutes and 20 minutes respectively.
VakıfBank coach Giovanni Guidetti expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, saying that they played against a great team that hadn’t lost a set in two months. He praised his players for their motivation, organization and passion, saying that they climbed a mountain step by step to reach the top.
Kara Bajema, who was voted the most valuable player of the match, said she was proud of her teammates and that they worked hard to win. She also expressed her excitement about the final, saying that it would be a tough match, but that she believed they would win.
VakıfBank will now face another Turkish team, Eczacıbaşı Dynavit, in the final of the CEV Champions League, which will be played in Turin, Italy, on May 20. The Red and Whites are hoping to win their fourth title in the competition and their third in the last four years. in the last four years.