The Bulgarian core of Halkbank – Tsvetan Sokolov and Matey Kaziyski, led by head coach Radostin Stoychev, recorded another convincing victory in the Turkish Efeler League. In an eighth-round match in Istanbul, "Bulgarian" Halkbank defeated Fenerbahçe Medicana 3:0 (25:20, 26:24, 25:16) as guests, marking their sixth win of the season, which pushed the team into the top 3 of the standings.
The clash, advertised as a derby due to the stars on both sides of the net, genuinely offered intrigue only in the second set.
Much more was expected from the Fenerbahçe hosts, especially from Turkish nationals Adis and Mirza Lagumdzija. Instead, their attacking power remained only on paper – Adis Lagumdzija finished with merely 3 points, and his brother Mirza didn't even manage to register a point in the statistics.
French superstar Earvin Ngapeth also failed to turn the match around – he finished with 9 points, but without dominating in key moments. The highest scorer for Fenerbahçe was Yiğit Gülmezoğlu with 14 points, while the other French national – middle blocker Barthélémy Chinenyeze – finished with 5 points. This was a very modest contribution given the class and expectations for the Istanbul giant.
For Halkbank, leadership once again came from the Bulgarians. Tsvetan Sokolov played a very strong attacking match and finished with 13 points, an efficiency rating of +8, 2 aces, and 55% attacking efficiency – statistics that highlight his stability as an opposite hitter and his ability to finish difficult balls.
Matey Kaziyski added 10 points, also with an excellent contribution offensively and defensively. Besides recording a +4 efficiency rating, 1 ace, and 1 block, the Halkbank captain also had a very strong reception – 60% positive and 10 perfect receptions, with a 40% attacking success rate. This balanced performance allowed the setter to develop a rich arsenal of combinations.
The Cuban with a Brazilian passport, Yoandy Leal, also joined the Bulgarian duo, finishing with 13 points.
Without delving into a detailed analysis of every figure, the team statistics clearly outlined Halkbank's superiority. The guests surpassed the opponent in aces (8 against 6), in reception (a higher positive percentage – 43% against 34%), as well as in points coming from opponent's errors (39 against 34).
These indicators show more stable control over risky serves and greater tactical discipline. Halkbank managed to reduce their own unforced errors while simultaneously capitalizing on Fenerbahçe's shaky reception and inaccuracies.
The convincing 3:0 away victory over Fenerbahçe's high-class squad, led by a star like Earvin Ngapeth, once again confirms Halkbank's ambitions for the title in Turkey. The sixth success of the season elevates Radostin Stoychev's team to third place and sends a clear signal to the competition that the "Bulgarian" project in Ankara is heading in the right direction.
