Constellation of national team stars leads Hebar to Bulgaria Cup trophy

Maritza defend their crown in the women’s competition

Published 04:45, 01 Feb 2022

Hebar Pazardzhik triumph with their third Bulgaria Cup trophy (source: startphoto.bg)

Hebar Pazardzhik triumph with their third Bulgaria Cup trophy (source: startphoto.bg)

The men’s team of Hebar Pazardzhik and the women’s team of Maritza Plovdiv claimed the 2022 Bulgaria Cup trophies.

The men’s final set the two traditional rivals for top national honours in recent years, Hebar Pazardzhik and Neftohimik Burgas, for yet another spectacular head-to-head collision on Monday evening. A constellation of former and current internationals entertained the spectators on the stands of the Mladost hall in Burgas as reigning national champs Hebar regained a hold of the national cup trophy after a 3-1 (25-23, 25-27, 25-23, 25-21) victory.

Hebar’s Salparov, Aleksiev, Yosifov and teammates shake hands with Neftohimik’s Kolev, Uchikov and Nikolov after the final

Hebar’s Salparov, Aleksiev, Yosifov and teammates shake hands with Neftohimik’s Kolev, Uchikov and Nikolov after the final

The squad from Pazardzhik, featuring two former captains of the Bulgarian national team, outside hitter Todor Aleksiev (15 points in the match) and middle blocker Viktor Yosifov (12 points), as well as star libero Teodor Salparov, also a former member of the Lions, Canadian international Bradley Gunter (17 points) and the national team setter of North Macedonia, Gjorgi Gjorgiev, among others, made up for a four-point deficit in the first set to win by a narrow margin.

Neftohimik, led by Bulgarian internationals Nikolay Uchikov (23 points), Nikolay Nikolov (14 points) and Nikolay Kolev (7 points), Slovakian national team outside Julius Firkal (16 points) and Austrian national team setter Alexander Tusch, got back at their opponents by wiping off a five-point lag in the second set and winning it in the overtime. It was the first set Hebar lost in the four matches since the start of the tournament. The battle continued over the next two sets as Hebar edged forward to celebrate victory and dethrone last year’s winners Neftohimik.

Former Italian national team outside hitter Jacopo Massari, who scored nine points towards Hebar’s win, was named MVP of the tournament.

"It was a nice, interesting game, offering good volleyball to the spectators. Congratulations to both sides! It was a real celebration of volleyball. It feels good to play such matches, especially in Bulgaria, in front of the Bulgarian audience, alongside people with whom we have played in the national team over the years." Viktor Yosifov, middle blocker of Hebar Pazardzhik

It was the third Bulgaria Cup trophy in Hebar’s history (after 2019 and 2020). In October, the team from Pazardzhik defeated their rivals from Burgas in the Bulgaria Super Cup final, also in four sets, and are now heading towards a golden treble as leaders in the national league standings. Hebar also made a breakthrough in the European Cups this season by reaching the pool stage of the CEV Champions League for the first time.

Maritza Plovdiv celebrate their seventh Bulgaria Cup victory (source: startphoto.bg)

Maritza Plovdiv celebrate their seventh Bulgaria Cup victory (source: startphoto.bg)

In Friday’s women’s final, also played in Burgas, Maritza Plovdiv claimed their fifth back-to-back and seventh overall Bulgaria Cup trophy after a 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-23) victory over Varna DKS.

20-year-old Aleksandra Milanova, outside hitter of Maritza and the Bulgarian national team, produced the match high of 18 points and received the MVP award.

Maritza are also seven-time back-to-back national champions and represent the country in the pool stage of the Champions League.

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