14/06/2018 23:00
Skopje ready to host Silver #EuroLeagueM Finals
2018 CEV Volleyball Silver European League - Men
Skopje, Former Y.R. of Macedonia, June 15, 2018. The Former Y.R. of Macedonia will try to use the home-court advantage, Latvia to extend their winning streak, while Croatia and Belarus will be hoping to cross their paths again after the semis as Skopje plays host to the Final Four of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Silver European League - Men. The event takes place at Kale sports hall in the Macedonian capital on Friday and Saturday. In the first semi-final, Belarus will play Latvia (17.00) and in the second, the hosts from the Former Y.R. of Macedonia will face Croatia (20.00).
Belarus vs. Latvia
• Team Belarus will be trying to end Latvia’s winning streak in the competition. The Latvians have been very consistent so far and lost only three sets to take the top spot in Pool A. They have already visited the arena in Skopje, so that may turn to their advantage.
• Latvia’s setter Deniss Petrovs was the best player for this position in the League Round and Edvarts Buivids, Toms Svans and Romans Sauss all performed well too. Therefore, an important factor will be the Belarusian middle blocker Siarhei Busel, the best blocker of the competition this far. With 59 points, Artur Udrys is the best attacker of the Belarusian team.
Croatia vs. Former Y.R. of Macedonia
• The hosts of the tournament want to improve on the silver medal they claimed in the last three editions of European League and they hope to claim gold this time around.
• In order to achieve this goal, the ‘Red and yellow’ have to beat Croatia in the semis, who finished the pool phase on a record of five wins and one loss only.
• The Former Y.R. of Macedonia won their matches against Kosovo and lost against Latvia and Austria in the group phase, but Gjorgi Gjorgiev and Aleksandar Ljaftov have recovered from injury and they are fully ready to play.
• Croatia can count on Leo Andric, who has scored 115 points in the competition so far, five less than the leading Austrian Paul Buchegger. Macedonian captain Nikola Gjorgiev lies slightly behind them on 109 points.
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