Poland: upset in playoff quarterfinals – Warszawa eliminate Trefl Gdańsk!

One major title favorite underwent elimination from the 2020/21 Polish Plusliga playoffs!
In a decider for the promotion to the semifinals, the 6th-seed VERVA Warszawa ORLEN Paliwa defeat no.3 Trefl Gdańsk to stage an upset. The team from the country’s capital prevailed in Game 3 of the quarterfinal series by a clear 3-0 (25:21, 25:19, 25:18). Despite 7 team aces (against 3 of the opponents), the home team has never managed to enter the game suffering terribly in attack: 32% and 14% efficiency.
Jan Król top-scored the winners with 16 points and 56% in attack, while Piotr Nowakowski sets up 5 winning blocks. MVP of the match Grobelny with 13 points and 61% in attack. Andrea Anastasi’s team thus filled the last remained spot in the semifinals.

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| 2020/21 Polish PlusLuga, playoffs quarterfinals | Game 3
| March 31, 2021
• Trefl Gdansk (3) – VERVA Warszawa ORLEN Paliwa (6) 0-3 (21:25, 19:25, 18:25) Serie: 1-2
Top Scorers: Wlazly 15, Crer 5, Lipinski 4, Reichert 4; Krol 16, Grobelny 13, Nowakowski 9, Kwolek 9, Wrona 8. MVP: Grobelny.
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| Semifinals program
| Game 1 (April 3):
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) – PGE Skra Belchatow (4)
• Jastrzebski Wegiel (2) – VERVA Warszawa ORLEN Paliwa (6)

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| Game 2 (April 7)
• PGE Skra Belchatow (4) – Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1)
• VERVA Warszawa ORLEN Paliwa (6) – Jastrzebski Wegiel (2)

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| (Game 3) (unknown)
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) – PGE Skra Belchatow (4)
• Jastrzebski Wegiel (2) – VERVA Warszawa ORLEN Paliwa (6)

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