05-OCTOBER-2012
SL BENFICA WINS THE 2012 SPORT ZONE SUPERCUP

SL Benfica conquered today the second Sport Zone Supercup in their history, beating the National Champions, SC Espinho 3-0 (25/22, 25/18 e 25/16), in the Multisports Hall of Coimbra.

The match showed that SC Espinho is still in the process of growing as a team, and Benfica seems reinforced with the signings of two Brazilian players: Raphael Margarido (setter – former Jastrzebski Wegiel) and William Reffatti (wing spiker).

SL Benfica entered better in the match with William Reffatti and Hugo Gaspar strong in attack. The “red” superiority in the net has earned them a good advantage in the score that could never be threatened by SC Espinho until the end of the first set.

The second set began well balanced but Benfica managed to reach the first technical timeout in the “driver’s seat” (8-6). A balanced dispute between the two teams was seen through the entire set, broken only in the final points when Hugo Gaspar in the service and Reidel Toiran in the block put the Lisbon side up in the front.

Everybody was waiting to see a reaction from SC Espinho in the third set, but was Benfica again to start better, scoring six consecutive points without response, reaching the first technical timeout with a 8-1 showing in the electronic scorer. SC Espinho’s Filipe Pinto tried to turn things around, but the confidence and determination of the 2011 Portuguese Cup winners remained unshakable till the end of the match.

Hugo Gaspar with 17 points was the match best socrer, while Filipe Pinto, with 11 points, was the best from the SC Espinho side.

José Jardim (SL Benfica Head Coach): “Benfica has played very well and deserved the win. We barely committed mistakes throughout the match and we’re pleased for being able to conquer another title for the club. Volleyball is made of victories and defeats, and the responsible for me being here today is my great passion for this sport”.

Hugo Silva (SC Espinho Head Coach): “The score reflects our physical form as our game got worse throughout the match due to the players fatigue. On the other hand, we began the preparation later than expected due to some problems within the club. We were aware that we needed to prepare this match in a better way, but that was not possible. Our objective for this year is to do our best in the National Championship. Coaching Benfica is easier that coaching Espinho as we have some financial problems that make us adapt some players to other positions, while Benfica has the economic power to sign new players thus having more solutions”.

Miguel Maia (SC Espinho setter): “We are working well but the fatigue was decisive. Benfica played very strong in all sectors which made our job even harder. We will try to challenge the best teams thus only doing so we can improve our game and develop the younger players”.

More info: www.fpvoleibol.pt / www.cm-coimbra.pt