ORLEN OIL MOTOR Lublin confidently drives into the semifinals. NOVYHOTEL FALUBAZ ends the season in PGE Ekstraliga

ORLEN OIL MOTOR Lublin defeated NOVYHOTEL FALUBAZ Zielona Góra 58:32 (in aggregate 112:67). The issues of securing a ticket to the 1/2 final of the play-off round were settled before the nominated heats.

The hosts showed their dominance in the 1st series of starts. After four races, the Lublin team led 16:8. With each race, the current Team Champions of Poland were heading towards the semifinals of the PGE Ekstraliga play-offs.

It seemed, however, that the team from Zielona Góra would make up some of the loss in the 6th race. Meanwhile, Bartosz Zmarzlik came to the fore, moving from third place to first – first overtaking Michał Curzytek, then Przemysław Pawlicki. The advantage of the ORLEN OIL MOTOR team was increased by a 5:1 victory in the 7th race by the pair Mateusz Cierniak – Dominik Kubera. The latter had to fight fiercely with Piotr Pawlicki. After two series, the scoreboard showed 27:15 in favor of the home team.

Further offensive play by the protégés of Maciej Kuciapa occurred in the eighth race, which ended 4:2 for the duo Bartosz Zmarzlik – Wiktor Przyjemski. The next two race confrontations ended in 3:3 ties. In any case, the Lublin team could already slowly feel they were in the next stage of the competition, especially since they led 37:23 at that time.

Lublin’s certain advancement became a fact after the 11th race, when the score at Aleja Zygmuntowska was 40:26 in favor of the hosts. In the entire quarter-final double match, it was 94:61 for the title defenders.

In the match itself, ORLEN OIL MOTOR Lublin added the finishing touch in the 12th race, after which their lead was 16 points (44:28). The regular phase of the event ended with a strong accent by the Lublin team – their 5:1 victory in the thirteenth race.

The nominated heats were resolved in Lublin’s favor, defeating the opponents 5:1 (in the 14th) and 4:2 (in the 15th).

Full report available HERE.

Norbert Giżyński