By Sophie Mosleh
The semifinal match between Bulgaria’s Yambolgas and Egypt’s Al-Ahly was nervous and tense, though both sides respected each other. Because of this, they depended on a defensive technique.
Yambolgas was in control of the situation, trying to keep the ball between each other for the entire match and when the ball was turned over to the other side, they continually made efforts to gain control again.
This caused the Bulgarians to lead – if only by a tiny margin – early in the game and then to slowly increase their score from 14-13 to 21-16 and then ending the first-half with a six-point lead at 36-30.
The second-half began with Yambolgas making it a necessity to play a better offense game, and because they were so fast in moving the ball from offense to defense, it was a little easier for them to reach the Egypt ring.
Egypt tried to resist them as much as they could but the professional players knew how to continue leading until full-time, ending the match with a 13-point difference at 71-58.
Egypt Disgrace Jordan 94-60
At the beginning of the semifinal match between Egypt’s Olympic team and Jordan’s Jazira, the two teams were focused and played slowly. The score was equal with very little advantage to Egypt’s younger side: 10-9, 18-16, 25-21.
Jazira was about to take the lead at the end of half-time, but the players couldn’t focus enough on getting the shots in the ring, and so Egypt led the first-half with 33-29.
Egypt entered the second-half completely transformed with an effective technique. Their purpose was to seize the ball from Jordan every time they got their hands on it, causing a lot of turnovers for Jazira, which quickened the speed Egypt made it to the other side of the net and boosted their lead enormously to 42-29 and then to 50-32.
Jazira lost complete focus afterwards, shooting shots that rarely went in. After losing total control of the ball, they finally surrendered, and Egypt continued leading 66-42 and eventually ended the match with a massive 34-point difference at 94-60 at full-time, disgracing Jordan in the process.
Three matches will be held Sunday night:
Jordan’s Al-Ahli Vs Jordan’s Orthodox Club [ranking 5-6] 4 p.m.
Jordan’s Jazira Vs Egypt’s Al-Ahly [ranking 3-4] 6:15 p.m.
Bulgaria’s Yambolgas Vs Egypt’s Olympic [for the Cup] 8:30 p.m.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
