PAOK were defeated 3-1 in the first game of the Men’s Challenge Cup round of 16, but they rightfully have many complaints from the match umpires.

To advance to the quarterfinals, Northern doubleheaders need to beat Maccabi 3-0 or 3-1 in the second leg on Thursday, February 15 at the PAOK Sports Arena and also win the golden set. Any other result, the Israelis qualify.

Both in the final of the 2nd set (at 20-19 Van Den Dries’ ace was called), but especially in the final of the 4th set where Van Den Dries’ clean blockout was called to take the final 32-30 The two referees (Romanian Botezatou and Turkey’s Yilmazgil) made the wrong decisions that made Dikefalos now chasing a 3-0 or 3-1 win and finding themselves in the golden in the second game in Thessaloniki (15/12). enforce sentence.

In the first set, the Israelis had a steady 1-2 point difference to take +3 (22-19) with Costa’s out, but PAOK responded and equalized 23-23 with an ace from Yorna while bowling Tailor -Set reached (23-24). Maccabi erased three sets from PAOK bowls but Grasso went 0-1 in the fourth.

The second set was a struggle again but PAOK’s missed equalizer at 14-13 put Maccabi up +5 (19-14). The Black and Whites, however, came back on serve with Van Den Dries and reduced it to 20:19, but a mistake by the referees (the Belgian’s ace was ruled out) and two attacks that didn’t end brought the score to 1:1.

The third set was a nightmare for the Thessalonians, who lost 8-1 (!) and never got back into the match.

In the fourth set, 9-9 became 13-9, Safonov fired on serve, PAOK reduced to one point (13-12), but Batskala’s block again brought the difference to three (17-14) and a new bluff over the same for Jorna it made 19-15. With Grasso out and against Jorna, PAOK got close to the point again (served by Van Den Dries).

At 20-19 it was 22-19 with another mistake, but the Greek team equalized with a serve from Yorna and missed a double chance to take the lead to another lost counterattack by Raptis at 23-23 Israelis to follow for the match bowl of the game. The Greek winger cleared it and a block from Voulkidis, Raptis to Safonov brought the score up to 24-25 for Batskala to reply and immediately afterwards Safonov caught an individual block against Van Den Dries.

The Belgian equalized at 26-26 but served in the next match(!) to 27-27 against Voulkidis and 28-28 against Van Den Dries, but the Belgian lost serve only to be mimicked by Safonov. At 29-29 0, Jorna made a great save and Raptis brought another set ball for PAOK only for the Dutchman to lose serve (30-30) and right after that Raptis Grasso’s serve gave an ace and immediately clear after Van’s attack Den Dries was expelled to put the game out of favor

The sentences: 3-1 (25-27, 25-22, 25-17, 32-30) in 118′

* Maccabi’s points came from opponents’ 8 aces, 58 attacks, 12 blocks and 29 errors and PAOK They came from 4 aces, 55 attacks, 9 blocks and 28 opponent errors.

MACCABI (Gal Galili): Inglesias 1 (Ref. 0/4, 1 Block), Batskala 13 (Ref. 9/11, 4 Blocks), Grasso 19 (Ref. 16/31, 1 Ace, 2 Blocks, 43% sub – 29% excellent) , Safonov 26 (18/41 ref, 6 aces, 2 blocks), Foeger 9 (6/10 ref, 3 blocks, 60% sub-32% excellent), Sokolov 10 (9/14 ref, 1 ace ) / Eisenberg (l, 43% sub.-29% excellent).

PAOK (Josko Milenkoski): Jorna 10 (8/20ff, 2 aces, 83% sub-61% excellent), Costa 10 (8/13ff, 1 ace, 1 block), Walls 3 (1/2ff, 2 blocks ). ), Voulkidis 9 (7/9 ff., 2 blocks), Raptis 12 (10/23 ff., 2 blocks, 49% sub.-30% excellent), Van De Dries 23 (20/48 ff., 1 ace , 2 blocks) / Kokkinakis (l, 54% sub.-46% excellent), Sotiriou, Gatsis, Takouridis 1 (1/1 ff.).