Emotions associated with the Champions League Final Four has already fallen so it is the best moment for a summary. The Cup of Europe flew away to Belgorod with players of Belogirie, who proved a peremptory supremacy on the Continent. Halkbank’s players, tournament hosts, did not come up to expectations set up in front of them before finals and this team probably will not be so strong in the nearest future. Jastrzebski Wegiel of Poland achieved a massive success having beaten Zenit Kazan in the bronze medal match climbed on the highest summit in club history, while Zenit is on the opposed pole in spite of having superpower ambitions.
Russian teams still dominate in competitions played under CEV sanctions and there are not many symptoms towards a change of this situation. On the contrary, the distance between clubs from Russia and all remaining parts of Europe is constantly increased, although it seems such a dependency will not play into European Cups attractiveness, but what could you do?
Final Four of the DenizBank Champions League in Ankara fully confirmed this observation, despite the fact that only one team from Russia has challenged and won both matches earning the most valuable trophy in Europe. It is talking about Belogorie Belgorod, that can be saved in the chronicle of a third triumph in history in the most prestigious club tournament on the Old Continent.
But enough about historical facts. Let’s focus on reality, that appears to be brighter and brighter for the wards of the one-bend man Gennady Shipulin. Not only is this noble man a volleyball coach or dynamically working businessman, but he is also scouting genius. It is said that Shipulin is able to accost a tall and well-built man in the street in order to invite him to a training, and then that previously unknown player becomes a star. Impossible? This is a true story of probably the best middle-blocker in the world Dimitriy Muserskiy. Confident and consistent team building system as well as management knack led to the most desirable effect – creation an elapsed, the complete team that can entirely conquer club volleyball in Europe for the next few years, but already took the first step towards the goal winning in Ankara.
The leader of the team full of stars turned out to be the most experienced Sergey Tetyukhin (MVP), which perfectly mastered the ability given a 100% in the final matches the most important rivalry. This nearly 40 year old guy played great in the semi-final match against Zenit and who would expect that he will bring out much more in the next day? He did it. Tetyukhin was able to take the responsibility on his shoulders in the decisive set during the final match against Halkbank, when the hosts gained a significant 5-point advantage. But then Sergey stepped in the service zone and began to wreak havoc in the ranks of the Turks getting perhaps the main protagonist of the final.
Dragan Travica may be settled on par with Sergey Tetykhin. The setter of Belgorod, actually his way of play, was surprisingly good. It seems that a climate change and escape from the intricately designed Italian tactical style had acted on the disposition of the player. At times he played GRIPPINGLY and effectively maintaining the high percentages of effectiveness. First tempos set up to middle-blockers from beyond 4th meter were coming into contact with the virtuosity. It is highly thought-provoking that the Italian was not awarded the best setter prize.
The image of the complete team filled in Dmitry Muserskiy (amazing as usual) and bomber Gorgy Grozer. Both took care of the offensive Belogirie side, while Muserskiy contributed a huge number of blocks grabbing “Best Blocker” title.
Belogorie Belgorod showed off a collective performance in Ankara, but this is not the end of the struggling in the international arena since the Russians will fly to the FIVB Club World Cup, which will be held in Brazil, and there is no doubt that European Champs will be the main favorites to triumph.
Halkbank Ankara was a opponent of Belogorie Belgorod in the grand final and proved to be a worthy competitor, despite the fact that some people stated that they will not be able to easily adapt to the tournaments high level (I belonged to one of those ” some people”). Why? Firstly, because it’s hard to build a team hastily, to buy high class athletes hoping to suddenly start a winning cruise. Secondly, so what you are having four world level players, if three remaining one can nullify actions of these theoretically “better”? Fortunately, all habitual doubters were disappointed. Positively disappointed.
Halkbank presented placed, balanced volleyball as if it was controlled by the best Turkish financiers who consider each scenario and prepared a suitable solution for even the deepest crisis. In addition, native Turkish players showed that they were not any gap in Halkbank’s wall. What’s more, Emre Batur and Nuri Sahin raised to the peak of their abilities by giving a play concert especially in the semi-finals. Stars Osmany Juantorena, Matey Kaziyski, Raphael, and Mitar Tzourits did their best. The Cuban won the final advance in the match against Jastrzebski on their own, Kaziyski played an impressive final, Rafael as well while Tzourits took the burden of attack even though he did not appear in the final tournament but … it was all too little.
However, Halkbank has failed to achieve victory, and probably will not do it too quickly, because the main sponsor of the club will take toys out of the volleyball sandbox taking money from the cash register, as a result, the team tarry for a personnel removal.
Jastrzebski Wegiel advance to the finals was not an accidental prank made in favor the Turkish Final Four hosts. It was evidenced in the bronze medal match against Russian financial magnates of Zenit Kazan, although fans of “Orange Hawks” could not be optimistic after the semi-finals as their minions were overwhelmed by Halkbank. The very players of Poland stated accordingly after the match that they could not stand nervously and gave in the match ‘in the locker room’. It was visible with the naked eye, because none of them looked like the players who fought to the death in the previous phases. However, after the rain always comes the sun, and you could see quite new face (in fact the old one) of Jastrzebski Wegiel on Sunday’s duel. Various and fast variants in attacks, engagement in defense and effective counter-finished mostly by Michal Lasko allowed to stand on the podium of the Champions League, referring greatest success in club history. Three years ago, this team also gained a qualification to the tightest elite in Europe, but failed to win even a game in Bolzano.
The season closed down one week ago has been an exceptional after-effect for Jastrzebski Wegiel with 10 wins and just two failures. Good leaders shape such as Michael Kubiak has been recognized in many countries, which is reflected in transfer offers with strong teams from all over Europe. Hence, the question is whether the bronze medalists of the Champions League will survive in the current personal configuration? This will be explained after the season, but now the ‘Hawks’ can celebrate success in European Cups and focus on competition in their native competitions.
There will not be any long wordy essay about Zenit Kazan. The Russian team simply did not deserve it. Nikola Grnić-and-co are the biggest disappointment of the final tournament. I did not mentioned the name of the legendary Nikola Grbic by accident for I did not like his style in Ankara. Negligible amount of sets in the middle, stamped playing to the left or right and relying on high efficiency of opposites or wing-spikers have always been a hallmark of the Olympic champion from Sydney, but has always had a great timing. During the Final Four (I watched it on TV), you could get the impression that someone stole you the remote control and let go of the broadcast in slow motion. High ball on the wings today do not bring desirable results nowadays. Zenit should have to looked for other solutions in the offence, but it did not happen. You know the effects.
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