Portugal-based T&T volleyballer, Marc-Anthony Honore and his SL Benfica moved within a win of securing a third straight Men’s Volleyball Supertaça Honda title after they rallied past Sporting CP on Wednesday.
Playing at their home venue at the Pavilhao Municipal de Obidos, in Lisbon, Benfica winners of the Cup for the previous two seasons found themselves trailing 0-2 in the best-of-five sets match, 15-25, 22-25
However, a tremendous demonstration of belief was fundamental to completing the comeback as the Marcel Matz-coached Benfica won the next three sets 25-19, 25-23, 15-11 to reach the Super Cup final versus SC Espinho on October 21.
In the final, Benfica who have lifted the Super Cup trophy eighth times (nine counting the old format), the most in the history of the tournament will be seeking to extend their record haul in the competition.
In the Honda A-1 Division League, Honore and his clubmates continued their winning form as well as they won their two matches to go joint top of the table with maximum 15 points and 5-0 records.
Unbeaten at 24-0 before last season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, Benfica swept past Club K 25-9, 25-12, 25-8 on Saturday and followed up by defeating CN Ginastica 25-17, 25-11, 24-26, 25-14 on Sunday.
Over in Turkey in the Women’s Volleyball Championship, senior women’s national team middle-blocker, Sinead Jack-Kisal and Iilbank continued their early-season struggles in a 16-25, 18-25, 25-23, 23-25 loss to Kuzy Boru Genclick 16-25, 18-25, 25-23, 23-25/
It was the sixth loss in seven matches for Ilbank, to stay 13th on the 16-team table with three points ahead of their next match versus cellar-placed and winless Beylikduzu on October 17.