Pseudo CUPARO Semi Finale

Clayton Lucas

CS Dinamo Bucuresti – ACS Volei Municipal Zalau 3 – 0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-18)

It was time for the bright lights to shine on the stars of Romanian volleyball as CS Dinamo Bucuresti took on ACS Volei Municipal Zalau for a place in the final of the prestigious Romanian Cup.

SIBIU the venue for the showdown, halfway between Bucharest and Zalāu.

It was a match that had to be seen to be believed!

The sign that things were going to be unusual started with the referee’s coin toss. The first referee in the presence of the two opposing captains threw the coin into the air, only to see it caught by a magpie and taken up into the rafters! Nonplussed the referee allowed a game of rock, paper, scissors decide who served first and who had which end.

As expected the first set was always going to be close with both teams going after each from the first serve. So much so that the referee had to remind the captains this is volleyball, not the school playground where mum jokes acceptable.

With the posturing over and the action hotting up Dinamo edged in front after the first technical timeout when the libero Ivanov went rushing backwards to save the ball off the block. Diving backwards and striking the ball with his hand, Ivanov actually made a laid out spike action that the ball sail back over the net and land in the middle of Zalau’s court for a 10 – 8 lead.

That spurred Dinamo on and soon they were four points in front from two excellent jump serves by Constantin Ionescu who had been brought in especially for this match, His second serve caught the top of the net and also the face of George Gavriz who had moved forward anticipating a short serve. A six pack he didn’t want !

Zalau clawed their way back into the set and at 22 all the momentum looked to be shiftin to Zalau. That was until Darlaczi hammered a ball to the side line only to see it called out. This brought the best John McEnroe impression from Darlaczi which amused the crowd, but not the referee who being the god father of Simona Halep and not fond of McEnroes commentary at the best of times gave DARLACZI a straight red & yellow, expelling him from the game and giving the point to Dinamo.

That was the spur Dinamo needed and they went on take the first set 25:23

Set two and it was Zalau who got off to great start taking an early lead. Finland’s Severi Sinkkonen was unstoppable through the middle as he feasted on Andrei Bathas butter.

Calls of NECTARRRR could be heard around the arena as the ball left Bartha’s hands.

Sadly for Sinkonnen his time on court was also cut short in the most bizzare fashion.

Having jumped for a two meter shoot ball, Sinkonnen missed judged his timing and Bartha misjudged the speed of the set. The ball came out of Bartha’s hands like a rocket. Sinkkonen flailed and missed the ball with his hand, but caught it sweeter than Gheorghe Hagi with his head ( sadly the side of his head), deflecting the ball into Dinamo court for the point.

A stunned crowd went silent, then as one screamed HAAAAAAAAAAAGIIIIIII.

Sinkkonen heard none of that as the blow had momentarily knocked him out.

The Physio rushed on to attend to Sinkkonen to check he was ok.

He asked“ Where are you?”

“I’m in Sibiu”

“Who am I?”

“You’re the physio”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Batman!”

“right that’s it you’re being subbed.”

“But you don’t understand I’m Batman!”

Needless to say Sinkkonen spent the rest of the match on the bench.

That loss of attacking power through the middle allowed Dinamo to take back control and they went on to take the set 25:17, leading two sets to nothing and one away from a place in the final.

During the end change I overheard Zalau’s coach talking with Darlaczi who was apologising for his temper tantrum. The coached looked at Darlaczi and just said “ it’s not your fault son…… It’s my fault for picking you.”

Zalau now had their collective backs to wall and needed to find a way into the match or it would be curtains!

Dinamo buoyed by their comeback in set two had the momentum and started the third set well with a change in their game plan that caught Zalau by surprise. The “over on one” was having its desired effect as it was tiring Zalau out who were playing the ball three times as much as Dinamo.

At this moment the Magpie that had pinched the first referees lucky coin, was eyeing up his shiny tin whistle. The gleam from the lights was too much and mid peeeeeep the magpie struck . With the refs hands up the air signalling an out ball, the magpie’s claws ripped out his whistle along with his denture. A toothless and somewhat embarrassed ref was substituted for the reserve ref, who being a reserve referee and not expecting to be involved, had started a little early on the after match tipples! Nevertheless with a chance to referee a major cup game now being handed to him, he took his opportunity and duly weaved his way to the up stand. With a little help from the players to get him aloft, the game was ready to resume.

Dinamo’s over on one tactic had given them a good lead and they further enhanced that with some incredible spiking as they brought haikyuu to life!!

Player after player running impossible angles, staying in the air for what seemed like an eternity and crushing the ball for the point. It turned out that the new kit sponsor Mammut Harnesses may have had something to do with that.

Despite that the team were a cross between swan lake and sepaktakrow as they took Zalau apart.

The set ending 25:18 to Dinamo who booked their place in the final.

The impossible dream a virtual reality.