Bulgarian international Denislav Bardarov played an exceptionally high-level match and was key to Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi (IBB)'s 3:1 (25:23, 23:25, 25:18, 25:22) victory over Gaziantep Gençlik Spor in a match from the 20th round of the SMS Grup Efeler League.
The match was played in the "Cebeci Spor Kompleksi" hall in Istanbul, and this is IBB's sixth victory since the start of the season. The team, driven by their home inspiration and Bardarov's excellent play, took an important step in the battle for survival and climbed to 11th position in the provisional standings with 21 points. Gaziantep Gençlik Spor is 12th with 16.
Match Progression
The match offered serious intrigue, especially in the first two sets. IBB snatched the opening set with a minimal 25:23, after which the guests from Gaziantep responded with the same difference – 25:23. In the third set, the hosts established dominance in all elements and after 25:18 took control of the match, closing it at 25:22 in the fourth set.
Bardarov – the Leader on the Court
The Bulgarian receiver was the top scorer in the match with 26 points and a +22 efficiency rating. He scored 2 aces, recorded 3 blocks, and finished with 48% attack efficiency. In reception, Bardarov registered 60% positive and 43% perfect reception – statistics that highlight his complete contribution to the match.
Significant support was also provided by former Bulgarian championship player Bradley Gunter, who added 14 points.
Team Statistics
| Statistic | IBB | Gaziantep |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 6 | 6 |
| Attacks (points) | 58 | 54 |
| Blocks | 13 | 10 |
| Opponent Errors | 21 | 18 |
| Positive Reception | 55% | 39% |
IBB's advantage in attack and block (13 versus 10) was crucial for the final success. Particularly indicative is the difference in reception – 55% positive against 39% for Gaziantep, which allowed the hosts to play more organized in attack. The additional three points from block and higher first-tempo efficiency tipped the scales in favor of the Istanbul team.
With this victory, IBB consolidates its upward trend, and Denislav Bardarov continues to establish himself as one of the most consistent Bulgarian international players abroad.
