Orange Dragons reach their 13th cup final in thrilling final

ACH Volley Ljubljana and Merkur Maribor clashed for the title in the grand final of the cup competition in Ljubljana's Hala Tivoli. In a real thriller, the Ljubljana volleyball team, still undefeated this year, won 3:2 despite falling behind 0:2 in sets.

Ljubljana - Tivoli sports hall, 300 spectators, sodnika: Melavc, Jovanovič (oba Slovenija).

ACH Volley Ljubljana : Merkur Maribor  3:2 (-28, -20, 21, 17, 11).

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Pernuš 1, Šket 13, Rutar, Mašulović 19, Todorović 1, Peruničić, Okroglič 6, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 27, Pokeršnik 1, Videčnik 13, Kök 1.  Trener: Mladen Kašić.

Merkur Maribor: Cafuta 1, Herman (L), Adžović, Kovačević 6, Pavlovič 10, Bračko 2, Košenina (L), Donik 4, Adžović, Planinšič 1, Kržič 8, Ikhbayri 31, Kovačič, Gergye 16.   Trener: Sebastijan Škorc.

The opening of the first set of the Grand Final of the Slovenian Cup was marked by a few missed openining shots. The Ljubljana team had a bit more initiative and twice managed to take a two-point lead (7:5, 9:7). After a successful finish by Gjorgiev, the Orange Dragons took their first three-point lead (11:8), to which Maribor's strategist Škorc reacted with a timeout. The 12-time Cup champions from Ljubljana maintained their advantage in the next set (11:8) after an attractive finish by Mašulović. Maribor kept up with the Ljubljana players, especially on the wings of Gergye and Ikhbayjri. After an ace by young Kržič, they managed to tie the score on the 18th point. A break at the request of Kašić did not stop the Maribor's onslaught (18:19), but later the Orange Dragons managed to tie the score. Videčnik was the best player in ACH Volley with his block and attack, and after a mistake by Pokeršnik, Merkur Maribor came up with a new final ball at 27:26. After another mistake by the Ljubljana team, Pavlovič closed the set with a block for 30:28.

Last year's Maribor player Šket opened the second set with two aces, but the reigning national champions quickly regained the balance and after an ace and a successful attack by the extremely skilled Ikhbayri, they took the lead 6:5. This triggered a reaction on the Ljubljana bench and a half-minute break at the request of Kašić. With an excellent defensive performance, the Merkur players got their first significant advantage after a mistake by Šket, who was replaced by Kök, and a successful attack by the Libyan opposite Ikbhayri (8:11). Coach Kašić tried a number of substitutions later in the set, but the balance of power on the court did not change. After two aces by the outstanding Kržič, Maribor's volleyball players escaped with a big five-point lead, and later by seven (19:12). On the other side, Mašulović got the Orange Dragons back on their feet with a great series of initial shots and the Ljubljana volleyball team managed to reduce the deficit to three points after a successful attack by Šket. The first final ball was brought to Maribor's line by the unstoppable Ikhbayri 24:19, and Gergye closed the set with a dunk for 25:20.

The start of the third set was even (5:5), but then ACH Volley took a two-point lead and maintained the advantage until the halfway point (14:12). After a successful attack by Škeet and a block by Videčnik, the Ljubljana volleyball players gained a three-point advantage for the first time in the set (15.12, 16.13), and four points (17:13) after an attack error by Kovačević. On the initial hit by the aforementioned Kovačević, the Orange Dragons let up on the reception and allowed the Maribor volleyball players to catch the lead (17:16). On the wings of the Macedonian ACH Volley's point guard, the Orange Dragons responded and secured a four-point advantage before the playoffs. They managed to keep the advantage until the end of the set, which ended on 21 points after an error by Pavlovič.

As if the third set would give the Ljubljana players extra energy, they took an early 4:0 lead thanks to Gjorgiev and Videčnik. The Dragons continued their fierce rhythm and after a successful attack by Mašulović, they took a 9:3 lead. Visiting strategist Škorc responded and a timeout ensued. It was to the advantage of the Maribor volleyball players who, after a series of successful initial shots by Bračko, who replaced Kovačević in the third set, got three points closer to the Ljubljana volleyball players (13:10). ACH Volley Ljubljana's volleyball players responded and, with excellent defensive actions and successfully completed attacks, managed to increase the advantage to six points (16:10). The Orange Dragons also continued the set, increasing their advantage and winning the set 25:17 after a block by Videčnik.

The decisive fifth set for the Cup winners' title started better for ACH Volley, who led 3:1 after an ace by Videčnik. The Ljubljana team was already up by five points (7:2) after pressure from Gjorgiev on the opening hit and two successful attacks from Mašulović. However, the unstoppable Mašulović and Gjorgiev continued to score points for the Orange Dragons, who maintained their advantage until the end of the fifth set (13:10), which ended in favour of the Orange Dragons (15:11) after a service error by Bračko (15:11). Thus, ACH Volley Ljubljana volleyball players celebrated their 13th cup laurel in their home hall Tivoli.

Statement by ACH Volley Ljubljana coach Mladen Kašić: »First of all, congratulations to my boys and also to the volleyball players from Maribor. Today we watched a great volleyball match, where we were the ones who were happy in the end. I am extremely proud that despite being 2:0 down, we managed to turn the match around and celebrate in the end.«

Statement by ACH Volley Ljubljana player Matic Videčnik: »It was very difficult for us after the first two sets, which we lost. Both teams showed a great performance. In the first two sets it showed that we are not used to someone leading us and putting pressure on us. In the third set we slowly came back and showed our true colors in the next set and deservedly won.«