The composition of the 2015/16 BHL season’s Final Four is becoming clearer, so far there are three teams from three different countries qualified. Last weekend Cocks Riihimäki and Granitas-Gaja-Karys Kaunas secured their places in the final tournament, both by eliminating Estonian clubs.
The remaining place in the Final Four will be decided next Saturday and it promises to be a tight affair, as Dragunas Klaipeda and Serviti Põlva settled for a 27-27 draw in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
Cocks used the advantage wisely
Cocks took a four-goal lead over HC Kehra/Horizon Pulp&Paper from the opening match to their home and as it was the first and only BHL game on Finnish soil this season, were determined not to let the lead slip. Finnish champion played strongly and led already at half-time by 19-11. Kehra was without left-handed backs Marko Slastinovski and Kaupo Liiva, in addition they suffered another set-back, when playmaker Uku-Tanel Laast got injured.
Nevertheless, the Estonians did not give up fighting and some younger players stepped up, like Siimo Tänavots, who scored 7 goals. Cocks however kept their distance and never let Kehra too close, winning eventually by 32-24. Nico Rönnberg was the top scorer of the match with 8 goals.
“The match started very well for us and it somehow felt Kehra did not believe in themselves,” commented Cocks head coach Kaj Kekki. “Obviously losing three key players did not make it any easier for the Estonians. Meanwhile, all went smoothly for us and I even managed to give a rest day to Andreas Rönnberg, who is still on his way back from a long injury break.”
Cocks’ semi-final opponent in the Final Four will be Granitas. “This is a surprise,” admitted Kekki. “Prior to the season I would have predicted Kehra and Serviti qualifying to the Final Four and from this pair I did not expect Granitas to come through. But perhaps it gives more color to the finals.”
Twisted logic: Viljandi wins, but loses
On Sunday, Viljandi HC hosted Granitas-Gaja-Karys Kaunas, a team they beat in last season’s Baltic Challenge League’s third place match. The Lithuanians had a four-goal advantage from the first leg (30-26) and they got a dream start in Viljandi – with eight minutes played the visitors were 6-0 ahead!
Shocked hosts did not panic and fought back, at half-time it was already 13-11 to Viljandi. However, feeling the pressure they could not break away, instead Granitas kept cool and was suddenly 22-21 ahead.
Viljandi made a final attempt scoring four unanswered goals and at the start of the final minute knew that one more goal would give them necessary four-goal lead. That was not to happen – Granitas lost 23-25, but qualified for the Final Four. Karl Toom for Viljandi and Deivydas Virbauskas for Granitas, both scored 7 goals.
Granitas director Algis Mikučionis was obviously very happy with the outcome: “This is very very important for the club! In many areas – sportively, politically, financially. It’s not easy in Kaunas, when basketball and Žalgiris are the clear number one in everyone’s mind. These achievements hopefully will draw more attention to handball as well.”
“I believe we were better prepared mentally for this quarter-final,” added Mikučionis. “The start of the match with a 6-0 lead confirms this. We concentrated on our own game and although there were some tough moments, we managed to come out on top in this equal pair.”
All square in the last quarter-final
The battle for the last Final Four place got underway on Sunday, when Serviti Põlva travelled to Klaipeda to play local Dragunas in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. Teams knowing each other well and arguably quite equal opponents produced exactly what was expected – an even match, which ended in a 27-27 draw!
Hosts were leading most of the match and in the second half often by 4-5 goals. When the last ten minutes started, Dragunas was ahead 25-21. Serviti did not want to lose and fought back to get an away draw, which might give the Estonian champion little advantage with the second leg being played in Põlva.
“Maybe the advantage is 51-49,” commented Serviti’s head coach Kalmer Musting. “I have to praise my goalkeeper Eston Varusk, who was excellent, making 23 saves. Our wingers Kristjan Muuga and Henri Sillaste were also good, team defence worked, but the overall attacking picture I am not happy about.”
“It is definitely going to be a tight affair next Saturday in Põlva,” added Musting. “We played Dragunas in EHF Cup in autumn, but I believe both teams are a bit stronger now and really on quite equal level. I hope we can use the home ground to our advantage.”
Dragunas’ head coach Arturas Juškenas agreed with Musting and admitted is was a very even game. “We did have the lead most of the match, but even when were five goals up in the second half, it was a good battle. We took the pace off and were trying to keep the advantage, but in this situation our young players started missing shots and our own mistakes eventually led to a draw,” explained Juškenas.
“Now it will be very tough, but I am hoping it will be similarly equal game in Põlva next Saturday and then everything is possible,” believed Juškenas. “All starts from zero and if in an even match our opponents can climb back from five-goal deficit, we can do it as well when needed.”
