Champions League Men | 27 Mar 2024

Ivor BAN: Our expectations are only to perform at our best

We're eagerly awaiting the start of the Champions League Men's Final 4, set to take place in Saarbrücken on March 30th and April 1st. It's expected to see powerhouses like last year's champions and two-time runners-up, 1 FC Saarbrücken TT, along with the perennial champions Borussia Düsseldorf and the formidable TTC Neu Ulm in the semifinals. However, the unexpected inclusion of Austria’s SolexConsult TT Wiener Neustadt adds an exciting twist to the mix.

SolexConsult TT Wiener Neustadt is coming to the Final 4 after successfully overcoming two stages of the Champions League, unlike other highly seeded clubs who reached the F4. In addition, they did not lose a match on their way to Saarbrücken.

“We are very pleased with our performance in the previous two stages of the Champions League. We all had our moments, from Jin UEDA to Frane KOJIC and myself, and Aleksandr KHANIN,” said Ivor BAN.

In Dubrovnik, in the opening phase, SolexConsult TT Wiener Neustadt beat Hungary’s PTE PEAC Kalo-Meh, Croatia’s STK Libertas Marinkolor, and POLSKI CUKIER GWIAZDA. BAN highlighted the crucial match that launched them to the leading position in the Group and thus to stage two.

“We beat a dangerous Polish team with very good players like Leonardo MUTTI, Vladislav URSU, and Taku TAKAKIWA. It lasted a full five matches, with me beating TAKAKIWA 3-2 in the decisive game and KOJIC overcoming MUTTI 3-0 in the decisive match,” remembered BAN.

BAN continued, “That was our first step because we didn't aim very high. We decided to go step by step, and when we saw the draw for the Second Stage, we were sure that would be the end. Nevertheless, we did not plan to go down easily. We were ready for the big matches and fierce fights. In the end, that attitude proved important. We got a little help with the weaker Hennebont, but even without big stars, the French club had to be beaten.”

The club completed both stages unbeaten, but their biggest achievement was the win over KS Dekorglass Dzialdowo.

“We shone in the duel against the Polish club, winning both legs 3-2. In the opening leg, UEDA was brilliant in both his encounters against Jakob DYJAS and Jonathan GROTH, while Frane beat Konishi KAII. In the return leg, they brought Chinese player Yu ZHOU, and in the opener, I surprised him and beat him. In the five-match encounter, I also beat Patryk LEWANDOWSKI in the decisive match,” said BAN.

Speaking of reaching the Final 4, BAN said, “It was not planned, but we managed to reach F4, bringing great joy to Austria. Now, it's the same for the Final 4. Our expectations are only to perform at our best level and to fight. In the semifinal, we will meet Borussia Düsseldorf. Since the WTT Champions is right before the Final Four, it is questionable which lineup they will play, but we are ready.

Currently, we are in the third position in the Austrian Bundesliga, and we secured the playoff place. As always, our aim is the Championship trophy after we already lifted it in the Austrian Cup."