The 2024/25 SMS Grup Efelerligi regular season concluded with the final 26th round, which finalized the standings and determined the semi-finalists in the title race. The biggest surprise was the elimination of Halkbank Ankara, who remained out of the playoffs after a poor run in their last matches.
Shock for Halkbank – out of the semi-finals!
Despite having stars like Yoandy Leal and Dick Kooy, the team led by Igor Kolakovic finished in fifth place with 48 points – just one less than fourth-placed Arkas Spor Izmir. Despite their success in the Champions League, where they eliminated Milano and reached the quarter-finals, poor form in the domestic league cost them a place in the title fight.
Ziraat Bankkart wins the regular season
With a dominant 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-19) victory over relegated Türşad, Ziraat Bankkart finished at the top of the standings with 63 points. Galatasaray HDI Sigorta remained in second place with 49 points, having crushed Altekma with the same score (25-17, 25-18, 25-17).
Fenerbahçe Medicana dramatically lost 2-3 to Arkas Spor Izmir, which allowed the Izmir club to sneak into the top four. Interestingly, Arkas Spor will not participate in the league next season, leaving a vacant spot among the best teams.
Results from Round 26:
Cizre Bld. – Istanbul Gençlik Spor 0-3 (15-25, 22-25, 13-25)
Spor Toto – On Hotels Alanya Belediyespor 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 25-12)
Galatasaray HDI Sigorta – Altekma 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-17)
Arkas Spor – Fenerbahçe Medicana 3-2 (27-25, 28-26, 23-25, 21-25, 15-8)
Bursa Büyükşehir Belediyespor – Halkbank 0-3 (14-25, 20-25, 18-25)
Ziraat Bankkart – Türşad 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-19)
Resting: Akkuş Belediyesi
Standings after the regular season:
Ziraat Bankkart – 63 pts.
Galatasaray HDI Sigorta – 49 pts.
Fenerbahçe Medicana – 48 pts.
Arkas Spor – 49 pts.(qualified for semi-finals, but will not participate in the championship next year)
Halkbank – 48 pts.
Spor Toto – 41 pts.
Altekma – 37 pts.
On Hotels Alanya Belediyespor – 36 pts.
Istanbul Genclik Spor – 33 pts.
Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyespor – 22 pts.
Cizre Bld. – 17 pts.
Turşad – 13 pts.
Akkuş Belediyesi – 12 pts.(relegation to 1. Ligi)
Playoff pairings:
Ziraat Ankara – Arkas Izmir
Galatasaray – Fenerbahce
In the semifinals of SMS Grup Efelerligi, we will have a "Bulgarian" derby, as Martin Atanasov from Galatasaray and Denis Karyagin from Fenerbahce will face each other. An exciting battle awaits us between the two Bulgarians at the highest level of Turkish volleyball!
