Champions League Men | 12 Dec 2013

UMMC booked its place in quarter final

Russian champion UMMC will play in its fourth consecutive Men’s European Champions League quarter final. They beat Saarbrucken at home 3:0 in Round 5 of Group B, having 4-1 score, while German side (2-3) kept just mathematical chance to progress among the best eight European clubs. Exactly, if Pontoise (3-1) overcomes Eslov (0-4) tonight, Saarbrucken will go to ETTU Cup.

UMMC`s coach Tatiana KUTERGINA composed her line-up totally different than in previous rounds. And it worked excellent.

In first clash Alexander SHIBAEV beat Tiago APOLONIA in five sets. Tall Russian was unique UMMC`s player who played well against Pontoise, beating on position no. 2 WANG Jian Jun, but French side won 3:1. Today SHIBAEV was posted on no.1 and after many upside-downs managed to defeat Portuguese.

When Joao MONTEIRO overcame Bastian STEGER, guests found their selves in very bad situation. The game took five sets, as third one was perhaps decisive: STEGER missed set ball on 10:9 and host led 2:1 in sets. MONTEIRO opened very well ultimate chapter (4:1) but actual ECH bronze medalist leveled on 6:6. Portuguese answered by two points in a row and that was enough for win.

Jun MIZUTANI used to be UMMC`s no. 1, but after two defeats against Pontoise, coach Tatiana KUTERGINA criticized him, saying that he was not in a good shape. Today, as no. 3, Japanese beat Slovenian Bojan TOKIC in straight games. No doubt that he was very motivated.

Round 5 of Group B: UMMC – Saarbrucken 3:0
Alexander SHIBAEV – Tiago APOLONIA 3:2 (11:9, 11:13, 11:9, 2:11, 11:8)
Joao MONTEIRO – Bastian STEGER 3:2 (11:4, 8:11, 12:10, 5:11, 11:9)
Jun MIZUTANI – Bojan TOKIC 3:0 (12:10, 11:7, 11:5)

Alex MILETIC, EWT, Alex MILETIC, EWT