Denislav Bardarov won the "Bulgarian" derby in the Turkish Efeler League \u2013 his İBB Spor Kulübü defeated ON HOTELS Alanya BLD as guests with 3:1 sets (25:19, 25:12, 16:25, 25:14) in a match from the 3rd round, played in Alanya. ThusDenislav Bardarov
current receiver for the national teamand his teammates recorded their second win since the start of the season, and with the three points won, İBB temporarily climbed to 4th position in the standings, before the remaining matches of the round were played.
On the other side of the net, the conductor of the hosts wasGeorgi Seganov
former national setter for Bulgaria, who was responsible for organizing ON HOTELS' attack.
The "Bulgarian" derby: Bardarov vs. Seganov
The guests from Istanbul completely controlled the first two sets, in which the difference in score and reception was palpable. Only in the third part did ON HOTELS manage to raise the level of their serve and block, to win back one set. In the fourth, however, İBB again pressed with serve and stable first ball, which quickly tilted the scales decisively.
Georgi Seganovadded 3 points (1 point in attack, 1 ace, and 1 block).
Denislav Bardarovwas among İBB's key players
with powerful attacks from zone 4 and stable reception throughout the match.
Top scorers with 10+ points
| Team | Player | Position | Total points | From attack | Block | Aces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ON HOTELS Alanya BLD | Bardia Saadat | Opposite Hitter | 17 | 13 | 2 | 4 |
| İBB Spor Kulübü | Bradley Robert Gunter | Opposite Hitter | 18 | 14 | 2 | 4 |
| İBB Spor Kulübü | Denislav Slavchev Bardarov | Outside Hitter | 15 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| İBB Spor Kulübü | Cemal Ozgur | Middle Blocker | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Statistics showed that ON HOTELS relied almost solely on their opposite hitter Saadat, while İBB had a significantly more balanced ensemble of scorers – the opposite hitter Gunter, the middle blocker Cemal Ozgur, and especially Denislav Bardarov, who contributed strongly in both attack and reception. This variety in the visitors' offense further complicated the block and defense of the hosts.
Individual performance of key figures
Bardia Saadat(ON HOTELS)
The Iranian opposite hitter finished with 17 points – 13 in attack with an impressive 65% success rate and 50% efficiency, plus 4 aces and 2 blocks. Despite his strong performance, the lack of a second stable scorer proved crucial for the final outcome.
Played for Hebar PazardzhikBradley Gunter(İBB)
Guntars was the top scorer in the match with 18 points
– 14 from attack, 2 blocks, and 4 aces. The Canadian opposite hitter attacked with 67% success rate and 57% efficiency, which seriously tipped the scales in favor of the visitors.
Denislav Bardarov(İBB)
The Bulgarian international played a very strong match: 15 points, of which 14 were from attack with 74% success rate and 63% efficiency, plus 1 ace. In reception, he handled 13 opponent serves with 62% positive and 38% perfect reception
– indicators that clearly show why the national team's coaching staff relies on him in the receiver position.
Georgi Seganov(ON HOTELS)
The Bulgarian setter finished with 3 points
– 1 from attack, 1 ace, and 1 block. More important than his points, however, were his setting and experience, with which he tried to diversify the hosts' game, especially in the third set, when ON HOTELS found a temporary solution against İBB's block.
Team Statistics: İBB's Advantage
| Team | Total Points | Attack – Points | Attack – Success Rate | Block – Points | Aces | Reception – Positive % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ON HOTELS Alanya BLD | 39 | 31 | 44% | 2 | 6 | 48% |
| İBB Spor Kulübü | 58 | 44 | 69% | 6 | 8 | 59% |
The raw numbers highlight İBB's dominance – more total points, a huge advantage in attack (44 vs. 31), twice as many blocks (6 vs. 2), and more aces (8 vs. 6). The difference in attack success rate – 69% for the visitors against 44% for the hosts – is telling. İBB's better reception (59% positive against 48% for ON HOTELS) allowedDenislav Bardarovand his teammates to play more often at first tempo and maintain a high percentage of completed attacks.
With this second victory and three points to their name, İBB Spor Kulübü settled in the upper part of the table – in 4th place before the remaining matches of the round. For Bulgarian fans, the match in Alanya brought double intrigue – a direct duel betweenGeorgi SeganovandDenislav Bardarov, and after its end, it can be said that it was precisely the outside hitter of our national team who emerged as the big winner, both in terms of the result and in individual performance.
