In first semifinal of its 23rd event Women’s Cuphosted for the first time in Heraklion, clash with Panathinaikosthe big favorite of the event, with Elysianthe ultimate underdog (11/03, 16.00 Ert Sports).
The greens, who lead the Women’s Volley League race, return to the Final 4 Cup after five years (2017, Glyfada) and claim the 6th title in their history, while for Elysiakos, which is fighting to stay in this big category, it is his second participation in the final phase of the Cup (2018, Santorini).
Panathinaikos needed to reach Heraklion to initially exclude Olympiakos (3-2 away) and then AEK (3-1 indoors of Agios Thomas) with Apostolos Oikonomou and his athletes accepting the title of favorite and declaring that they are ready to win the first title of the year.
Elysiakos respectively arrived in Heraklion via … Thessaloniki as at 16 they eliminated in Ampelokipi the Hope (prevailing 3-2) and in the quarterfinals him Aiada Evosmou (3-0).
THE second semifinal of the Final 4 of the Women’s Cup is theoretically much more balanced and the battle for qualification for Saturday’s final is expected with great interest.
THE ΑΟ Θήρας counts two consecutive lost finals (3-1 from Olympiakos in Serres in 2019 and 3-0 last year from PAOK in Ilioupoli), while this is his 4th overall semifinal in the institution.
On the contrary for Thetida Voulas This season hides many … firsts as after her maiden participation in the European Cups, she will play for the first time in her history in a Final 4 Cup.
Thetis is in 6th place in the Volley League standings, even claiming to enter the 4th team, while AOTH is definitely 7th and is waiting to find out its opponent in the playoffs.
In the championship, they count from one victory, taking advantage of the seats in the matches between them that turned into … a thriller.
In the 4th match, after 136 minutes, AOT prevailed with 3-2 and the tie break ended at 15-13 (although it was ahead with 2-1 sets and 24-22 in the 4th) with Abbot having 30 points and Anthouli 35!
In the second round (17th game) Thetis prevailed 3-1 after 99 minutes, but made a big upset in the third set. There, Santorini led 13-19, but the home team with a total series of 12-5 took the set and finally the victory.
Both had to make a great effort to be in Heraklion with Thetida … surviving from the double match bowl of Lamia and prevailing 3-2 in the quarterfinals (while in the 16th round they had defeated Porphyras 3-0).
Thira needed five sets to exclude Aris in Thessaloniki, while the quarterfinal of Naxos did not escape the tie break either.
The program of Final-4
Friday 11 March 2022
First Semifinal: E.A.K. Heraklion “Linto” (ERTSPORTS HD) 16.00: Ilysiakos A.O. – Panathinaikos A.O.
2nd Semifinal: E.A.K. Heraklion “Linto” (ERTSPORTS HD) 19.00: Α.Σ.Π. Θέτις – Α.Ο. Θήρας
Final – Saturday 12 March 2022
Ε.Α.Κ. Heraklion “Linto” (ERTSPORTS HD) 19.00: Winner of the First Semifinal – Winner of the Second Semifinal
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