Regular season of the league is completed except postponed Tokat-Arkas match. Result of this match will not change the standing, so that play-off match up definitely fixed. Let’s take a glance to these match up.

Tokat Belediye Plevne – Arkas Spor
These 2 teams will play the postponed league match for Challenge Cup Final Four Tournament of Arkas on March 26th one day before the play-off game. This match will be a friendly game to prepare for play-off battle. Arkas is the absolute favorite of this round with high level framework and morale of 2 cups. Tokat representative will do its best in order to have young players earn experience but to win a match against Arkas is a miracle.

Estimation: 2-0 Arkas

Maliye Milli Piyango – Ziraat Bankası
There is no court and audience advantage. Although Ziraat Started to league like a storm, lost so much power after Riley Salmon leaves. However got stronger again with trainer alteration and Franz Granvorka transfer. Managed to beat invincible Arkas twice which one these in league and the other in cup. Missed Türkiye Cup misfortunely. With this ambition Ziraat is one of the biggest champion candidates. Maliye is seeking for prestige that could only get 1 set in 2 matches against Ziraat.

Estimation: 2-0 Ziraat Bankası

Fenerbahçe – Halkbank
It is the most interesting match up in play-off first round. There is no doubt Fenerbahçe is the most unstable team of this season. Last year champion will fight for victory against a strong team has not been champion for many years. Both teams have effective spikers. Fenerbahçe Setter Arslan is young and tall. He also has service advantage. Experienced Nikolay Vassilev Ivanov is older. He played in Türkiye for many years and it is his advantage. Fenerbahçe is so ascendant on middle players. Hakan, Barış and Fatih are more experienced players than Alper and Kemal. German Ralph Bergmann can not play due to foreigner quota. Trainer Martin Stoev behaves conservative and does not think to substitute Nikolay with Umut. Even though Halkbank has the court advantage, Fenerbahçe supporters sometimes fly their team. Either in İstanbul or Ankara. Arrange your schedule now for vying matches.

Estimation: 2-1 Fenerbahçe

Galatasaray – İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi
Belediye has the biggest framework of the league and has not avoided anything to have the championship cup. Although new foreigners orientated so fast, finished the league on 3rd place with point loss in critical matches. Galatasaray accomplished many duties with its limited squad. But however, team has been decreasing after being eliminated from Challenge Cup. Another reason to fall is injuries on Inoslav and Enrique. Ali Çayır plays perfect when its time for him but he will have much difficulty against strong Belediye. Get ready for new century David – Goliath struggle.    

Estimation: 2-0 İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye

Kayhan KÖSEM
kkayhan@hotmail.com