Turkey: Ziraat one step away from defending title. Halkbank defeated in four sets also in Game 2! Third place for Fenerbahçe

No.3 Ziraat Bankkart are only one victory away from winning another title in the Turkish Championship.
After the away victory in Game 1 against top seed Halkbank, they celebrated another triumph at home with 3-1 (25:23, 15:25, 25:21, 25:23) and took the lead of 2-0 in the playoff Final of the 2021/22 AXA Sigorta Efeler Ligi.
After a great fight, Ziraat won the first set against the city rivals, which was followed by a strong response from Halkbank in the second set. Then the hosts managed to win both third and fourth sets, and so now they are only one victory away from the title.

The Dutchman Wouter Ter Maat was the man of the match with 23 points (65% and 55% efficiency in attack, 1 block and 2 aces) while Bedirhan Bülbül and Faik Samed Güneş set up 5 blocks each. They compensate the bad evening of Camejo (only 8 points, 37% and 21% efficiency in attack, 2 errors in reception and 4 from the service line).
In Halkbank, Cuban Ramos Hernández tallied 23 points, while Argentine Nicolás Bruno made 73% reception (15 digs, 1 error, 60% perfect).

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Ziraat starts strong with two aces from Ter Maat, 4-1. Halkbank level the score with two aces in a row from Bruno, 10-10, but then Hernandez suffered the block of 13-11, redeeming himself with two points that tie score again, 14-14. Gulmezoglu surpass with the ace, aided by the net, of 14-15, but Ter Maat reply with the point of 16-15, and even with the block of 17-15. Hernandez level the score again. Halkbank keep the lead until the 22-23, then, with Atanasov in serving, Bulbul blocks Bruno and then also Hernandez to close at 25-23.

Vigrass scores first break point of second set, 0-2 and then, with an error by Atanasov and a block from Gulmezoglu on Ter Maat Halkbank try to escape: 7-11. Time out does not revitalize Ziraat, who suffered the counterattacks from Gulmezoglu (7-12) and Bruno (7-13). Black out for the hosts, who accuse Vigrass’ ace, 8-15, and a block from Eksi on Camejo, 9-17, and even an ace by Hernandez for a disappointing 9-18. Hernandez close 15-25.

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Ter Maat for 2-1 and an error by Hernandez 3-1 mark the start of third set, but Halkbank recover with 2 blocks from Vigrass on Gunes (3-4) and a counterattack by Hernandez (3-5). 5-5, and then a very good turn from the service line by Camejo: Gulmezoglu attacks out after a negative reception (7-6), Bruno attacks on the net (8-6), and a counterattack from Atanasov marks the 9-6. Hernandez ace shortens the distance (10-9), but the error in. attack by Gulmezoglu restores them: 12-9. Point by Aslan Eksi (13-11), and he takes also a red card (14-11), then he tried again, but without success, and Gunes’ counterattack marks the 15-11. Another black out for the hosts, first with the error for 18-16, and then even with a (rare) error from Ter Maat: 18-17. Time out, and this time it is fruitful, as Ziraat back to +3 with a counterattack by Bulbul: 20-17. Error by Hernandez (22-18), Gulmezoglu miss the reception and Camejo takes advantage: 24-20. Ter Maat close 25-21, scoring his 20th points!

Ziraat starts better also in decisive fourth set taking advantage from the error by Hernandez (2-1) and an ace by Gunes (3-1). An error from Atanasov level the score: 5-5. Bruno is blocked for the 7-6 and he was replaced by Bayram, blocked too (8-6). Gunes blocks also Vigrass (9-6), and then Atanasov put down the ball of 11-7. Halkbank recover a break (11-9) and tie the score again by blocking Atanasov: 13-13. Ziraat
back at +2 with a winning block by Camejo and Bulbul on Hernandez (15-13), and then block also on Gulmezoglu (16-13). Vigrass manage to block Ter Maat (18-17), but the Dutch opposite restores +3: 20-17.
Vigrass blocks a not excellent Camejo, 20-19, who misses also in reception, 22-22. A great point from Ter Maat is worth first match point 24-22, and close an error in serving from Hernandez (25-23).