As Arkas eliminated Halkbank in two matches and Fenerbahce defeated Ziraat 2:1, Turkish League final series will be a repetition of Turkish Cup fight.
The semifinal play-off series between Arkas Izmir and Halkbank Ankara lasted only two matches. In the first game in Ankara, Arkas showed their best performance of this season. With tactically strong play at block and serve, Izmir erased attack of Halkbank and after 2nd set dominated the game (3:1).
The second match in Izmir was no breathtaking show – both teams made lots of mistakes, but despite high motivation of Halkbank players, Arkas proved to be the better team and won 3:1. Arkas celebrated their perfect season – in all three competitions played in season, Arkas advanced to the finals.
Liberman Agamez of Arkas was the best scorer of both games (22 and 22 points), middle blockers Hascan and Tocoglu had important role in the results as well. Halkbank attackers Olivera and Borrero of Halkbank did not show enough deciding influence on game.
“After winning 11 games in a row in Turkish League, this was the first match after a long time where we have been put under pressure by our opponent. Our performance was very bad,” described Halkbank middle-blocker Jiri Kral the first match. “In the second game, we fighted with full intensity, but Arkas patiently played what they needed.“
Halkbank Ankara – Arkasspor Izmir 1:3 (22:25, 25:22, 18:25, 15:25)
Arkas: Agamez 22, Bravo 15, Meszaros 10, Tocoglu 8, Hascan 6
Halkbank: Kral 10, Özkan 9, Olivera 9, Serhat 9
match report
Arkasspor Izmir – Halkbank Ankara 3:1 (25:19, 21:25, 25:20, 25:21)
Arkas: Agamez 22, Bravo 13, Hascan 12, Tocoglu 10, Subasi 7, Koc 5
Halkbank: Serhat 19, Özkan 11, Kral 10, Olivera 10, Ender 8
match report
Fenerbahce – Ziraat series needed all three matches to decide. Fenerbahce won the first match, yet Ziraat managed win and in deciding third game, Fenerbahce got ´reborn´ and won. It was not easy, as Ziraat won the first set and Fenerbahce was doing many reception mistakes, but after stormy timeout between Coskovic and coach Castellani, substitution of outside hitter and change of libero in 2nd set, Fenerbahce stopped Ziraat and won.
On Ziraat side, only Latvian opposite Gundars Celitans showed stable performance (20, 23 and 21 points), whereas Fenerbahce has been as always supported by Ivan Miljkovic (20, 20 and 21) and Leonel Marshall (19, 7 and 11) points. Fenerbahce was also more successful at block.
Fenerbahce Istanbul – Ziraatbank Ankara 3:1 (25:16, 27:25, 21:25, 25:23)
Fenerbahce: Miljkovic 20, Marshall 19, Batur 13, Kayhan 10
Ziraat: Celitans 20, Platenik 10, Resul 9
Ziraatbank Ankara – Fenerbahce Istanbul 3:1 (25:18, 20:25, 25:19, 25:18)
Fenerbahce: Miljkovic 20, Marshall 7, Kemal 7
Ziraat: Celitans 21, Platenik 15, Resul 13
Ziraatbank Ankara – Fenerbahce Istanbul 1:3 (25:17, 22:25, 19:25, 19:25)
Fenerbahce: Miljkovic 21, Marshall 11, Coskovic 11, Batur 11
Ziraat: Celitans 23, Platenik 9, Akseker 8
Fenerbahce vs. Arkas series won´t be only the Turkish Cup reprise, but also a continuing of a long-years story of ´pride and hate´ between these two Turkish top clubs. During last three years, Fenerbahce eliminated Arkas in two play-off semifinals and one Turkish Cup final.
Apart of reprising Agamez-Miljkovic last-year “Greek” duels and Hoag-Castellani coach-battle, we can expect lots of emotions among Fenerbahce and Arkas fans. Very noisy, emotional and hard final series, played for 3 victories, will start on Tuesday in Izmir. The final series will finish on April 29th at the latest.
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