Ziraat Bankkart moved within touching distance of the SMS Grup Efeler Ligi championship after securing their second consecutive victory in the playoff finals against Galatasaray HDI Sigorta. The convincing 3-1 triumph puts them just one win away from claiming the prestigious Turkish volleyball title.
Dominating proceedings from the outset, Ziraat Bankkart captured the first two sets with scores of 25-23 and 25-15. Despite Galatasaray HDI Sigorta showing signs of resilience in the third set, winning it 23-25, Ziraat Bankkart regained control in a tightly contested fourth set that ended 27-25 in their favor.
The victory gives Ziraat Bankkart a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, meaning they could secure the championship as early as next Tuesday. According to Statbet analysis, teams that take a 2-0 lead in volleyball playoff finals historically have over 80% chance of winning the championship.
Galatasaray HDI Sigorta now faces an uphill battle, needing to win three consecutive matches to overturn the deficit and claim the title. The third game, potentially decisive, is scheduled for April 29, 2025, at Ziraat Bankkart Hall, with the first serve at 19:00 local time.
Should Galatasaray manage to extend the series, Game 4 would take place on May 2 at Burhan Felek Vestel Hall, with a possible Game 5 set for May 5 back at Ziraat Bankkart Hall. However, based on the dominance displayed in the opening two encounters, Ziraat Bankkart appears poised to claim the championship without requiring all five games.
