Tijana Bošković played for Eczacıbaşı for “a hundred years” and unsuccessfully tried to conquer Europe with that Turkish team, and then she moved to the ranks of their eternal rival – Vakifbank and in tonight’s CEV Champions League final, against her old club, FINALLY won the only missing trophy in her club career – 3:1 (25:20, 25:21, 21:25, 25:18).
After being the main “director” of the famous comeback in the seemingly lost semifinal duel with the deposed champion Conegliano, one of the world’s best volleyball players for years experienced the long-awaited joy. Easier than expected, as the newly crowned champion of Turkey “crossed out” its great rival in domestic competitions in just four sets.
Eczacıbaşı started the Istanbul clash with the winner of the last national Cup better, mostly leading, only for things to go in the opposite direction after 7:6. Vakifbank repelled the other team’s attempts to come back to life with point-scoring runs and, more or less calmly, took the initial step toward the triple crown. In the second set, the eventual celebrants were in control.
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From the first to the last minute, as not even the second tie (19:19, after 1:1) disturbed them, let alone stopped them. That is why a fierce battle was fought in the third set. Eczacıbaşı led, Vakifbank also had an advantage, until… the former team of the Trebinje native halved the total deficit. After 21:21, they reeled off points and gave themselves momentum for an eventual overall equalizer.
It was of no use; Tijana and her teammates regrouped, resumed a warrior’s stance, and played their best volleyball. And they charged unstoppably toward a grandiose success. Something that their seriously injured compatriot of Bošković – our Katarina Dangubić – cheered for from the sidelines. The European title is also credited to our Aleksandra Jegdić, the reserve libero, as well as her husband Vladimir Kapriš, in his capacity as a member of Giovanni Guidetti’s coaching staff.
All of them, and especially Marina Markova and Cansu Özbay, but also the entire playing roster, contributed to putting the cherry on top of the cake, but there is only ONE Tijana. And her 34 points against Conegliano, plus tonight’s 33! There is also only one legendary Maja Ognjenović, who did not manage to take third place with her Scandicci at the just-concluded Final Four.
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Source: Euronews, Photo: Instagram/Tijana Bošković