Turkey: in semifinal Game 1, Ziraat survive Galatasaray, Arkas down Fenerbahçe
1 min readZiraat Bankkart and Arkas Spor started the playoff semifinals of the 2020/21 Turkish AXA Sigorta Efeler Ligi playoff semifinals on the right foot.
The top-seed Ziraat prevailed over no.4 Galatasaray HDI Sigorta in Game 1 after a thrilling 5-set battle. Partially, it was 25:19, 22:25, 26:24, 17:25, and 15:13 for the team from Turkish capital. Dutchman Wouter Ter Maat staged a notable performance for Ziraat, pouring down 33 points (68% in attack, 3 blocks and 4 aces), while Bedirhan Bülbül set up 7 blocks.
On the other semifinal, the 3rd-seed Arkas Spor staged an upset by defeating regular-season vice-champions Fenerbahçe HDI Sigorta. The Izmir side won in 4 sets, mostly thanks to the 19-years-old opposite Efe Mandıracı, author of 30 points with 51% in attack, 5 blocks and 3 aces.
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| 2020/21 Turkish AXA Sigorta Efeler Ligi playoff semifinals – Game 1
| April 2, 2021
• Ziraat Bankkart Ankara (1) – Galatasaray HDI Sigorta Istanbul (4) 3-2 (25:19, 22:25, 26:24, 17:25, 15:13)
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• Fenerbahce HDI Sigorta Istanbul (2) – Arkas Spor Izmir (3) 1-3 (23:25, 26:28, 25:14, 26:28)
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| 2020/21 Turkish AXA Sigorta Efeler Ligi playoff semifinals – Game 2
| April 6, 2021
• Galatasaray HDI Sigorta Istanbul (4) – Ziraat Bankkart Ankara (1) 1-3 (23:25, 25:16, 20:25, 17:25)
• Arkas Spor Izmir (3) – Fenerbahce HDI Sigorta Istanbul (2) 0-3 (15:25, 20:25, 15:25)
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| 2020/21 Turkish AXA Sigorta Efeler Ligi playoff semifinals – Game 3
| April 9, 2021
• Fenerbahce HDI Sigorta Istanbul (2) – Arkas Spor Izmir (3)
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