Italian champion Sir Susa Vim Perugia qualified for the Final Four of the Champions League after defeating Spanish Guaguas Las Palmas 3:0 (25:18, 25:21, 25:23) in the quarter-final return leg. In the first match, the Italians won a tough 3:2 victory in Gran Canaria. Thus, "the Devils" secured their spot in Turin, where they will defend their title.
The greatest tension came in the third set, where the Spaniards took the lead and held the initiative for a long time. Guaguas Las Palmas demonstrated character and played without hesitation against the world champion, but in crucial moments, Perugia's class prevailed.
At 24:23, a block by Argilagos and a subsequent ace by Semeniuk ended the contest and sent the Italian team to the Final Four.
In the first two sets, the hosts dictated their tempo. Perugia dominated in serving and blocking, with Ben Tara and Semeniuk being the main scorers. The guests from the Canary Islands tried to stay close in the score but made too many errors, especially from their serves.
Despite the loss, Guaguas Las Palmas left an excellent impression with their performance in the tournament. The team went through the qualifications, the group stage, and the eliminations, reaching the quarter-finals – a significant achievement for the Spanish club.
Leader Osmany Juantorena and his teammates showed that they could challenge the strongest teams in Europe, with their play in the third set being particularly impressive.
The Bulgarian public had the opportunity to get acquainted with the qualities of Guaguas Las Palmas even before the Champions League group stage. The Spanish team, led by Osmany Juantorena, eliminated Levski in Sofia and already then showed that they would not be just a participant in the tournament.
Perugia will face Warsaw in the semi-finals. The Final Four will take place on May 16-17 at "Inalpi Arena" in Turin.
The Italians enter as one of the favorites for the trophy, but the competition this year is extremely tough.

photo:cev.eu