Bulgarian Superleague 2010-2011

    Pirin lacked the European experience which CSKA have. I am glad to see the good game of Penchev who showed technique and intelligence in attack besides the great reception. Gotsev did well too. Mitev set faster than usual, I was surprised. I didn't like the setting of Manchev - his predictability and simplicity of the setting could be used better from more experienced rivals. There we cases when he set the ball, Todorov jumped and was without block, but Portuondo spiked from pipe against triple block the same ball. What is the point to make expected pipe when you have artillery in the middle? :what:

    I really like Bulgarian players and I'd like to see Gotsev, Mitev, Penchev (very, very, very talented!!!) in World League, preferably in Final Eight (?) in Gdansk :).

    Quote from chimer89

    I really like Bulgarian players and I'd like to see Gotsev, Mitev, Penchev (very, very, very talented!!!) in World League, preferably in Final Eight (?) in Gdansk :).


    And I would like to see my man Mozdzonek doing some standing blocks to teams like Russia and Brazil :obey:

    14th round (postponed game):


    22-March


    CSKA - Pirin Balkanstroy 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-18 ) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/2695.htm


    Final standings after regular season:


    1 - CSKA 65
    2 - Pirin Balkanstroy 61
    3 - Lukoil Neftochimik 45 (set ratio 50-26, 1.9231)
    4 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 45 (set ratio 51-29, 1.7586)
    5 - Levski Volley 38
    6 - Montana 37
    7 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 29
    8 - Kaliakra 24
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    9 - Arda 23
    10- Cherno more BASK 11 (set ratio 20-59, 0.3390)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    11- Slavia 11 (set ratio 18-56, 0.3214)
    12- UNWE 7

    A very one-sided derby between the two best teams in the league as a finish for the regular season. The regular setter of CSKA Nikolay Ivanov was given a rest, the young Georgi Manchev played just enough to provide the victory against the very weak Pirin today. In fact, Manchev played better than Mitev today, the setter of Pirin made too many errors for his level, half of the balls set to the opposite Zhelyazkov were low and inaccurate. Manchev was indeed predictable, but played very accurately, which is a good starting point for someone of his age.


    CSKA finished the season unbeaten, 22/22 record. So now we can wait for the play-off phase starting beginning of April. Until then Cup quarterfinals played in the next two days.

    CUP OF BULGARIA 2010-2011


    Quarterfinals:


    23-March


    Montana - Marek Union-Ivkoni 1-3 (25-17, 24-26, 22-25, 24-26)
    UNWE - Lukoil Neftochimik 1-3 (11-25, 20-25, 25-19, 14-25)


    24-March


    Cherno more BASK - Pirin Balkanstroy 0-3 (18-25, 26-28, 22-25)


    25-March


    Levski Volley - CSKA 0-3 (20-25, 16-25, 18-25) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5254.htm


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Final 4 of the Cup was played in Sofia in "Hristo Botev" sports hall.


    Semifinals:


    28-March


    Lukoil Neftochimik - CSKA 1-3 (20-25, 17-25, 25-20, 23-25) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5407.html
    Marek Union-Ivkoni - Pirin Balkanstroy 1-3 (28-26, 20-25, 19-25, 20-25) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5406.html


    Final:


    29-March


    CSKA - Pirin Balkanstroy 3-2 (26-24, 25-19, 23-25, 24-26, 15-4)


    Awards:


    Best young player - Nikolay Penchev (Pirin Balkanstroy)
    MVP - Philip Mayio (CSKA)

    I had the pleasure to watch the final game of the Cup live in Sofia. It was definitely the best game I've watched live this season, and probably along with the first encounter between Pirin and CSKA in Razlog (2-3 for CSKA) these were the best matches in our league. The final started well for Pirin, obviously they were motivated enough to put some pressure on CSKA after losing incredibly easily some days earlier in Sofia for the championship. They were the better side in the first set, but a series of serves from Ivaylo Stefanov and some mistakes in attacks by the young opposite Yordan Zhelyazkov gave the final set win for the more experienced CSKA even though Pirin deserved it more. CSKA won the second one easily and after taking a 3-point lead at the second TTO in the 3rd set the crowd was foreseeing a 3-0 game, which, to be honest, would have been unfair since the level of volleyball was terrific. Then, Pirin made 3 blocks in a row to level the score and finally come back into the game. The 4th set was the most interesting one, at the end of it we saw the veteran captain of CSKA Nikolay Ivanov come back on court for the first time in days to ensure that CSKA doesn't go into a 5th set. Pirin were already fuelled by the great Penchev, he and Stefanov from CSKA took turns in serving well, and after some dubious referee's mistakes (completely unbiased, just bad decisions) and a yellow card to Nikolay Ivanov from CSKA Pirin entered deservedly the tie-break.


    The 5th set, however, was a very fast one. CSKA were pissed off, with Ivanov starting at the service line (he only floats the ball) they made a 9-0 lead and comfortably closed the match in their favour.


    I think what Pirin were missing in order to take the title was surely some experience, if you look at their roster, they are most very young. Two other reasons for the defeat they faced - their opposite Zhelyazkov had a great season so far, he is a powerful attacker who was doing great even as a substitute of Kostadin Stoykov, and, in fact, I think he is a bit better than Stoykov, but in this final game he sent so many balls out that I just stopped counting them. He was replaced by the receiver Dimov, but it was hard for him to do much as an opposite even though he was successful at times. Second, Konstantin Mitev is definitely not in his best shape. What is weird is that he made some bad mistakes when setting balls to the opposites and even to Penchev. He even caught the ball instead of tipping it over the net in one of the notable situations. Without an in-form setter the game is indeed very difficult.

    I liked the MB's of Pirin. Both are called in the extended roster of the NT
    I didn't like the statement of Nikolay Ivanov that they proved without doubt that they are the better side. Not very gentle from him after winning 3:2 :whistle:

    Especially enjoyed the moment when Pirin came back in match after being 2 sets down :obey:(great spirit) and CSKA thought they will win it easily. The coach Alex Popov said to Niki Ivanov (setter and captain)- stand up! you are going in! Looked like the match went out of control :lol: and also when he called Evgeny Ivanov (veteran MB), who also hadn't played the last few matches to come on the court to ensure they will beat Pirin.
    At some moment I though' Cmon CSKA, you are not letting Pirin defeat you in your home hall in front the home crowd after leading 2-0!
    Even Zenit Kazan didn't do that! :rolll: :rolll: :rolll:


    Anyway Pirin is a clearly young and inexperienced team with no tradition playing finals and international tournaments so it's obvious CSKA is a class above.
    Good fight from the youngsters though, if only the opposite played better they would had chances to win! You can't win a final without an opposite!
    Yavor, you are right about Mitev, he continued playing like there is an opposite and setting balls to opposite when there is nobody to score there - it was crucial!


    Looking forward to playoff matches! Pirin seems ambitious now to take a revenge :D Go Pirin!

    Marek - Levski 0:1, quarterfinal playoff live:


    http://www.sportmedia.tv/event.php?id=171

    Marek - Levski 2:3 :super:
    Great game by middle spikers Trifonov and Ragin, Trifonov showed technique I've seen only in Nikolay Nikolov's spikes (among Bulgarian MB's). Ragin was very calm in critical moments. The setter Borislav Georgiev did good, but had incorrect passes in someone of the critical moments. He has excellent serve and showed it in the first set, when Levski made 8:2 in the first part.


    The MB's setter and opposite of Levski are U21 NT players from the team who got silver from the 2010 ECH. Three of the players of Marek are their reserves in the NT.
    Todor Vulchev showed why he is called in the extended roster of Bulgarian NT. Spikes, serves, defense - very good. If he could receive well, he can be the fourth OH and play some games in WL.
    I must add that may be the best player on court was Georgi Petrov, 41 years old. He received great, blocked in the tiebreak and even spiked over the double block several times :what:

    CSKA - Marek 3:0, Todorov MVP and top scorer along Ivaylo Stefanov with 15 points - 62% in attack and 8 blocks!
    http://www.cskavolley.org/OnLineScore/Match-report.htm
    Maiyo surprised with good powerful serve - 15 serves with no errors and 4 aces!
    I am sorry that Levski was not on the place of Marek for the Semifinals, they played 3x5 set games against them. Levski could have played better in the center against the high block of CSKA, their MB's are the U21 NT MB's, who were part of the ECH silver medals last year, they are fast and furious at the net :serve:

    Quarterfinal play-offs:


    02-April


    Marek Union-Ivkoni - Levski Volley 2-3 (20-25, 25-16, 25-22, 23-25, 13-15) (0-1) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5395.html
    Pirin Balkanstroy - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 3-1 (27-29, 25-18, 25-18, 25-22) (1-0) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5394.html
    Lukoil Neftochimik - Montana 3-1 (23-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-13) (1-0)


    05-April


    CSKA - Kaliakra 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-13) (1-0) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5393.htm
    Levski Volley - Marek Union-Ivkoni 2-3 (21-25, 25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 8-15) (1-1) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5398.pdf
    Coco Volley Club Gabrovo - Pirin Balkanstroy 2-3 (25-21, 25-20, 16-25, 19-25, 5-15) (0-2) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5399.html
    Montana - Lukoil Neftochimik 1-3 (25-21, 22-25, 20-25, 23-25) (0-2)


    06-April


    Kaliakra - CSKA 1-3 (17-25, 25-16, 23-25, 15-25) (0-2) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5397.htm


    07-April


    Marek Union-Ivkoni - Levski Volley 3-2 (25-18, 24-26, 25-15, 14-25, 15-12) (2-1) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5401.pdf

    Semifinal play-offs:

    10-April

    Pirin Balkanstroy - Lukoil Neftochimik 3-0 (27-25, 25-21, 25-18 ) (1-0) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5705.html
    CSKA - Marek Union-Ivkoni 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-16) (1-0) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5706.htm

    13-April

    Lukoil Neftochimik - Pirin Balkanstroy 2-3 (34-36, 25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 14-16) (0-2)
    Marek Union-Ivkoni - CSKA 1-3 (25-21, 20-25, 20-25, 21-25) (0-2) http://bgvolleyball.com/files/volleyball/stats/5708.htm


    Finals:

    CSKA vs. Pirin Balkanstroy

    CSKA - Pirin 1:0, LIVE http://www.sportmedia.tv/event.php?id=193

    PIRIN - CSKA 1:0 LIVE http://www.sportmedia.tv/event.php?id=194

    If Gadjanov make it into the main NT it will be no surprise :)