The Stage 1 of the ETTU Europe Cup Men, played over the past three days in Romania, produced eight qualifiers, the winners and runners-up of the four groups, who advance to Stage 2.
The top two teams from each group move forward, while the third- and fourth-placed clubs drop into the Europe Trophy. The group winners are: Italy’s ASD Marcozzi Cagliari, Austria’s UTTC Paneceo Stockerau, Polish Energa Manekin Toruń and Spain’s Enoli Borges Vall.
The runners-up are: Spanish Alicante TM, Polish KS Olesno, Austria’ SPG Linz and the hosts Romania’s CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc.
Group A
ASD Marcozzi Cagliari, represented by Federico VALLINO, Rares SIPOS, and Massimo FERRERO, topped the group after defeating both opponents, KTS Gliwice and Alicante TM.
The Polish side pushed Marcozzi to a full-distance battle but fell short. Later, Gliwice concluded the tournament without a win, losing to Alicante’s trio Alberto LILLO, Diego LILLO, and Jose GUILLOT.
- Alicante TM – ASD Marcozzi Cagliari 1–3
- ASD Marcozzi Cagliari – KTS Gliwice 3–2
- KTS Gliwice – Alicante TM 0–3
Group B
Spanish team Enoli Borges Vall, led by Francesc CARRERA, Marc DURAN, and José Luis ANDRADE, finished first after holding off the hosts CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc in a close five-match encounter.
The Romanian side,Sebastian LOSO, Szilard GYÖRGY, Szabolcs TAMAS, delivered a strong challenge and deservedly secured second place.
- Fenerbahce Sport Club – Enoli Borges Vall 0–3
- CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc – Enoli Borges Vall 2–3
- CSS-SZAK Odorheiu Secuiesc – Fenerbahce Sport Club 3–1
Group C
Energa Manekin Toruń, composed of Dimitrije LEVAJAC, Asuka SAKAI, and Konrad KULPA, dominated the group, winning all matches without dropping a single individual encounter.
SPG Linz, with Tomas SANCHI, Zhenlong LIU, and Tobias TISCHBERGER, secured second place, their only defeat coming at the hands of the group winners.
STK Libertas Marinkolor Dubrovnik and Irun Leka Enea finished third and fourth respectively.
- Irun Leka Enea – STK Libertas Marinkolor Dubrovnik 0–3
- SPG Linz – Energa Manekin Toruń 0–3
- SPG Linz – STK Libertas Marinkolor Dubrovnik 3–1
- Irun Leka Enea – Energa Manekin Toruń 0–3
- Energa Manekin Toruń – STK Libertas Marinkolor Dubrovnik 3–0
- Irun Leka Enea – SPG Linz 0–3
Group D
UTTC Paneceo Stockerau, with Mykhailo LOVHA, Khalid ASSAR, and Tarek AL-SAMHOURY, lived up to expectations and took first place.
Their decisive victory over KS Olesno (featuring Alan KULCZYCKI, Daniel LIS, Radek MRKVIČKA) in a five-match battle proved crucial. Portuguese side Clube Desportivo 1º de Maio finished without a win.
- Clube Desportivo 1º de Maio – UTTC Paneceo Stockerau 0–3
- KS Olesno – UTTC Paneceo Stockerau 2–3
- Clube Desportivo 1º de Maio – KS Olesno 1–3
