Galatasaray HDI Sigorta qualified for the final of the Turkish SMS Grup Efeler Ligi, after winning the second match of the semifinal series against Halkbank with a 3:0 (25:17, 25:18, 25:22) score. The match was played in the "TVF Burhan Felek Vestel Voleybol Salonu" in Istanbul, and the hosts closed the series with a 2:0 victory.
Galatasaray's team started with Arslan Ekşi, Thomas Jaeschke, Ahmet Tümer, Stephen Maar, Jean Patry, Doğukan Ulu, Hasan Yeşilbudak, and Caner Ergül as libero. The hosts established control from the beginning and did not relinquish the initiative in any of the three sets.
The top scorer for the winners was French opposite Jean Patry with 17 points, while Stephen Maar added 13. Thomas Jaeschke finished with 9 points.
For Halkbank, the two Bulgarians Matey Kaziyski and Tsvetan Sokolov were once again the most solid, scoring 13 points each. Kaziyski finished with 1 ace and 2 blocks, and Sokolov – with 1 block.
Georgi Tatarov did not appear in the game for the hosts again, but he took a photo with the team after the match (Tatarov is behind coach Andrea Gardini, editor's note).
The first match of the series was also won by Galatasaray with a 3:0 score, which confirmed the team's superiority in the semifinal. Thus, the Istanbul team not only secured a spot in the final against Ziraat Bankkart but also the right to represent Turkey in the CEV Champions League next season.
Team Statistics:
| Metric | Galatasaray | Halkbank |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 14 | 1 |
| Positive reception | 49% | 38% |
| Attack points | 36 | 38 |
| Blocks | 7 | 4 |
| Opponent errors | 19 | 13 |
Galatasaray won the match primarily from the service line. The huge difference in aces (14:1) directly influenced Halkbank's attack organization, even though the visitors had a minimal advantage in points scored from attack.
The hosts' better reception (49% vs. 38%) provided stability in setting and allowed for more varied play. Additionally, there was a block advantage (7:4), as well as a higher number of points resulting from opponent errors (19:13).
Ultimately, Halkbank remained competitive in the match only in the attack element but was completely outplayed in the other components, which explains Galatasaray's clean 3:0 victory.
Photos:galatasaray.org
