The final four of the Baltic Handball League has started. In the first semi-final match, the tournament host Põlva Serviti club met VHC Šviesa.

The match started evenly and in the 12th minute the score was 6:6. Later the hosts pulled away and won the first half 21:16. Põlva Serviti increased the lead to 30:22 in the middle of the second quarter. However, the VHC Šviesa team managed to catch up with their rivals. Põlva Serviti led by only one goal, 35:36 in the 59th minute play. In the last minute VHC Šviesa had a chance to equalize the result. However, the decisive shot was off target.

Põlva Serviti won the game with the score 36:35 and reached the final for the second year in a row.

VHC Šviesa – Põlva Serviti 35:36 (16:21) 

VHC Šviesa – Ugianskis 6, Drabavičius 5, Urvikis 5, Sinkevičius 4, Palevičius 4, Bernatavičius 3, Rasakevičius 3, Bliuvas 2, Plėta 1, Pukas 1, Markiavičius 1.

Põlva Serviti – Timmo 8, Rooba 8, Sillaste 7, Varul 6, Chezlov 3, Hiiend 2, Kase 1, Meiksans 1.

Alfred Timmo was nominated as the best player in the Põlva Serviti team. Mantas Urvikis became the best player in the VHC Šviesa team.

Kalmer Musting (coach, Põlva Serviti)

The real drama was at the end of the match. All match was very tough. We were waiting for such a match. We knew it would be a tough fight. At the end of the first half, when the Šviesa team attacked with seven, they made a few mistakes and we scored easy goals. In the second half the Šviesa team tactics paid off and they caught up with us. Our players were already tired, because it is difficult to defend six against seven. We were lucky at the end of the game when the Šviesa player did not score and we didn’t have to play overtime.

Žygimantas Sinkevičius (coach, VHC Šviesa):

In the first half, we didn’t manage to do what we planned. In attack, we rushed to attack the goal, which led to mistakes. And Polva’s game is based on a quick attack after the opponents’ mistakes. They scored easy goals after our mistakes. We got back into the game at the end of the second half. Unfortunately, one goal was missing. It’s hard to even comment. A lot of work has been put in all season and it hurts to lose a game like this by one goal. We have to recover and concentrate to fight for the third place. I want to thank the fans who came to Estonia for their impressive support.

Defending champions Vijandi HC and ZRHK TENAX Dobele will play in the other semi-final.