Milko Bagdasarov was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the Balkan Championship for U17 boys in Albania, after making a key contribution to Bulgaria's title. Two other Bulgarians – Emiliyan Dinchev and Krastin Ilov – were included in the Tournament's Dream Team.
Bronze medalist from EuroVolley 2026, Milko Bagdasarov, added another prestigious award to his collection. The captain of the Bulgarian national U17 team was named Player #1 (MVP) at the Balkan Championship in Albania, which ended with a title for the 'lion cubs'.
The team, led by coach Ivan Stanev, reached gold after a dramatic 3:2 victory over Turkey in the final.
It was Bagdasarov who led Bulgaria in the decisive match. The outside hitter, who was also used as an opposite during the tournament, finished as the top scorer in the final with 27 points, 5 of which came from blocks.
His strong performance was not limited to the title battle. Bagdasarov finished the Balkan Championship with a total of 80 points scored, and his consistency throughout the tournament also brought him the biggest individual award.
"Bulgaria's triumph was sealed by Milko Bagdasarov's exceptional individual performance," the Balkan Volleyball Association wrote when announcing the individual awards.
The Bulgarian presence in the Balkan Championship's Dream Team did not end with Bagdasarov's MVP award.
Emiliyan Dinchev from "Stoychev-Kaziyski" Volleyball Academy was named the best setter of the tournament.
Krastin Ilov from CSKA received recognition as one of the best middle blockers at the Balkan Championship.
Thus, Bulgaria finished the tournament in Albania not only with gold medals but also with three individual awards – another recognition for the performance of Ivan Stanev's team and his staff.
For Bagdasarov, the MVP award is another distinction during an exceptionally strong summer with the national team.
He is already a Balkan champion with the national U18 team, which won the title at the end of June in Montenegro. After that, Bagdasarov added a bronze medal from EuroVolley 2026, and now he triumphs as a Balkan champion with Bulgaria U17, as captain and MVP of the championship.
Thus, in just one summer, Milko Bagdasarov accumulated an impressive collection – two Balkan titles, a bronze medal from a European Championship, and the individual award for Player #1 at the U17 Balkan Championship.
With his 80 points in the tournament in Albania and the crucial 27 points, including 5 blocks, in the final against Turkey, Bagdasarov solidified his place among the leading volleyball players of this generation in Bulgaria.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov and balkanvolleyball.org
