Kuutio Homes Paphos’s bid for a victory and a spot in the next round in Croatia fell short, against Mladost Zagreb, as the Cypriot champions suffered another 3-1 set loss and were eliminated from the CEV Champions League. However, they will continue their European campaign in the CEV Cup, where they have a new opportunity for distinction and success.
At the “Bojan Stranić” Indoor Arena in Zagreb, the Cypriot champions got off to a perfect start, winning the first set but losing the second in the closing moments and failing to remain competitive thereafter. Combined with their home loss in the first match (1-3), Paphos was eliminated from Europe’s top club competition, but their European journey doesn’t end here, as they will face Belgian club Nak Roeselare in the Round of 32 of the CEV Cup. The first match will be held in Cyprus in early December, and the rematch will take place in Belgium.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Giorgos Platritis’s team, which started with Odysseas Savvidis and Mansija on the wings, got off to a hot start and took a 4-7 lead. The home team stepped up their reception, tied the score at 11-11, and pulled ahead (18-16) with three consecutive points, but with Mansija serving exceptionally well, Paphos immediately regained the lead at 18-19. The final stretch belonged entirely to the Cypriot champions, who—with their two middle blockers putting on an amazing offensive display (5 points from Ruiz and 4 from Prodromou in the first set), triumphantly closed out the set at 21-25.
Mladost improved in the second set, scoring points on serves and blocks, which helped them establish a small but steady lead from the start. They built a “+3” lead (16-13 and 19-16), and although the Paphos team responded strongly to tie the score at 19-19, unfortunately they couldn’t find a way to close out the set. The Croatians turned a 21-21 tie into a 24-21 lead and closed out the set 25-22 with a point by Zeljkovic.
The start of the third set was a nightmare, and it proved decisive for the team’s chances of advancing: The home team jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and the gap widened to nine points (15-6) thanks to two aces by Zeljkovic. Despite our players’ efforts to get back into the game, the Zagreb team maintained a comfortable lead and closed out the set 25-17.
With the Croatian team having already secured the two sets needed to advance, the fourth set was of less importance. Mladost took a 7-3 lead, riding a wave of momentum and throwing the “blue” team off their rhythm, before extending their lead to “+8.” Pafos temporarily narrowed the gap to 17-11, and didn’t stop fighting even at 24-16, when they saved three of the home team’s eight match points, but they couldn’t avoid the final score of 25-19.
Sets: 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-19) in 105 minutes.
Mladost’s points came from 6 aces, 56 attacks, 12 blocks, and 22 opponent errors, while Pafos’s points came from 3 aces, 48 attacks, 7 blocks, and 25 opponent errors.
MLADOST ZAGREB (Tony Kovacevic): I. Zelkovic 17 (13/21 attacks, 2 aces, 2 blocks, 63% reception–40% perfect), Perić 13 (10/11 attacks, 3 blocks), Andrić 14 (12/31 attacks, 2 aces), Pokersnik 21 (17/33 attacks, 1 ace, 3 blocks, 67% reception–22% perfect), Jakopec 8 (4/9 attacks, 1 ace, 3 blocks), Zukuski 1 (1 block) / Kumagai (libero, 65% reception–40% perfect), Situm.
KUUTIO HOMES PAFIAKOS (Giorgos Platritis): Mansija 11 (8/24 attacks, 2 aces, 1 block, 32% reception–16% excellent), Prodromou 8 (7/12 attacks, 1 block), Eleftheriou 15 (15/44 attacks), Od. Savvidis 6 (5/15 attacks, 1 ace, 54% reception–29% excellent), Ruiz 12 (9/19 attacks, 3 blocks), Komitoudis 2 (1/4 attacks, 1 block) / St. Savvidis (setter, 67% reception—33% excellent), Sokratous, A. Savvidis 2 (2/4 attacks), Ale 2 (1/3 attacks, 1 block), Michael.
Referees: Suleyman Yalcin (Netherlands) / Predrag Balancic (Serbia).
