Luxembourg, May 20, 2018. With one match in each pool yesterday, there was the same to run today. Eight teams will go to four after the League Round so the pressure is on to get results on the board if teams want to secure their place at the Final Four of the Silver European League in Skopje (MKD) on 15-16 June. The hosts of that event started slowly against Kosovo today but came back strongly to take a commanding 3-1 win. In the second match of the day Belarus had their home fans cheering as they beat Albania in straight sets.
Kosovo vs. Former Y.R. of Macedonia 1-3 (25-20, 16-25, 17-25, 14-25)
• Kosovo men’s National team played their first-ever official match in the sports hall named after former USA President Bill Clinton in the city of Ferizaj.
• This match coincided with the first-ever official game played by the Former Y.R. of Macedonia in Kosovo.
• Nikola Gjorgiev was the ‘man of the match’ for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 European League silver medal winners, as he scored as many as 31 points.
• Middle blocker Durim Rexhepi top scored for Kosovo with 11 points.
• Kosovo won the first set 25-20, thus crowning their historic European League debut in the best way, before the visitors swept three in a row.
Belarus vs. Albania 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-21)
• Albania was able to make pressure in the end of the first set. Opposite Anton Qafarena had some good attacks, but the block of the Belarussian team worked better.
• Asmend Kula had success with several serves, which allowed Albania to have a chance of winning at least one set.
• Belarusian coach Viktar Beksha made several substitutions in the second set to allow his team to move more steadily in receiving the ball.
• Opposite of Belarus Artur Udrys had successful attacks from the back zone of the court and became the top scorer for the home side with 14 points.
Quotes:
"It was the first game for my guys and we were nervous. They outplayed us with their serves but we were the better side in all other aspects of the game. The opponents put up a fight, and the match had an intriguing finish," said Viktar Beksha, Coach of Belarus.
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