PGE Projekt Warszawa has moved to within touching distance of securing the PlusLiga bronze medal after defeating JSW Jastrzębski Węgiel 3-1 in the second match of their third-place playoff series.
After dropping the opening set in a tight 28-30 battle, the capital club rallied impressively to take the next three sets 26-24, 25-21, and 25-20, establishing a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Standout performer Bartłomiej Bołądź earned MVP honors with an excellent offensive display, contributing 19 points with a remarkable 64% attacking efficiency. His teammates provided balanced support, with Tobias Brand adding 15 points, Jakub Kochanowski 14, Artur Szalpuk 13, and Andrzej Wrona 11.
For the visitors, Tomasz Fornal matched Bołądź's 19-point output, while Łukasz Kaczmarek and Luciano Vicentin contributed 17 and 14 points respectively, but their efforts proved insufficient against Warszawa's well-rounded performance.
According to analysis from Statbet, teams leading 2-0 in five-game playoff series historically complete the sweep more than 70% of the time, putting Projekt in an excellent position heading into the decisive matches.
The stakes remain high for both teams, as the bronze medal winner will also secure a coveted spot in next season's CEV Champions League. Projekt now requires just one more victory to claim both prizes, with the third match scheduled for May 7.
Should Jastrzębski manage to extend the series, they'll need to win three consecutive matches to complete an improbable comeback and snatch the final Champions League qualification spot.
