A real sensation marked the quarterfinals of the Bulgarian Cup. The team ofPirin (Razlog)dethroned the reigning trophy holderLevski – Sofia, after overcoming them with3:2 sets (25:23, 29:27, 13:25, 21:25, 15:11)in an extremely dramatic clash, played in "Arena SamElion" in Samokov. Led byBlagovest Katrandzhievthe team showed character, composure in decisive moments, and deservedly ended the "blues'" defense of the trophy.
Levski started more confidently and took the first set, but the second became the psychological turning point. Pirin survived a tense finish and snatched the set 29:27, after which they dominated decisively in the third. The "blues" showed character and equalized with a convincing fourth set, but in the tie-break Pirin was more composed and controlled the development after the change of courts.
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Levski – Sofia | 2 |
| Pirin | 3 |
| Sets: 3:2 (25:23, 29:27, 13:25, 21:25, 15:11) | |
The two longest and most tense sets – the second and the fifth – went to Pirin. It was there that the guests showed better concentration and fewer hesitations in the key rallies.
Duration of sets
| Set | Duration |
|---|---|
| 1 | 42 min |
| 2 | 34 min |
| 3 | 23 min |
| 4 | 24 min |
| 5 | 17 min |
The second set was the longest in the match and clearly showed the evenness and high tension. The third set, convincingly won by Pirin, was the shortest
– an indicator of complete control by the visitors.
Total points in the match
| Team | Total points |
|---|---|
| Levski – Sofia | 105 |
| Pirin | 109 |
The difference of just 4 points in favor of Pirin over a total of 214 rallies highlights how evenly matched the game was. The victory came not from dominance, but from better management of key moments.
The big hero for Pirin was Teodor KamenOv, who played a strong match and finished with 28 points, an efficiency rating of +16, 5 blocks, and 48% attack success. He received offensive support from Konstantin Manolev and Konstantin Kozelov, who each scored 11 points.
For Levski, the top scorer was Yulian Weyssig, who finished the match with 25 points, +9 in efficiency, 1 block, and an impressive 55% attack success. Gordan Lyutskanov added 21 points, and Todor Skrimov finished with 10, but the efforts of the three were not enough for a complete comeback and the "Blues" exited the competition.
Levski once again showed that they can compete with anyone, but inconsistency in individual sets and the lost second set proved fatal. Pirin demonstrated maturity, resilience, and better psychology in the decisive phases, which rightfully led them to success with3:2 setsand progression in the tournament.
