Boarding completed: Dragunas will defend the title in the F4

April 9, 2022

Boarding completed: Dragunas will defend the title in the F4

The quarter-final round of the Baltic Handball League (BHL) is over. The semi-finals will feature two Lithuanian and two Estonian clubs.

Dragunas Klaipeda, the defending champions, took the final spot in the Final Four. Dragunas defeated Granitas Kaunas in both legs of the quarter-finals. Lithuanian port city team won the opening leg at home by a score of 31:24.

Granitas’ team took a five-goal advantage in the first quarter in the rematch in Kaunas. However, after the break, Dragunas not only equalized but also altered the score and won with a 27:25 edge.

Ignas Savicius led the victors with six goals, while Laurynas Simonavicius and Tomas Draksas each scored five. Paulius Sarkauskas scored seven goals for the home squad, while Manvydas Lazauskas contributed five.

‘Our team had a jittery start to the game, and we didn’t score much in the first half, despite being in good positions. We knew our opponents’ main goalkeeper, Lukas Gurskis, would be unavailable. We warned the players not to relax because it happens that when a new goalkeeper arrives, the newcomer’s success follows. We expected a tough fight because Granitas never gives up, and we knew our opponents would give it everything they had. We’re pleased with how well the second half went and that we were able to win. We had a goal of making it to the Baltic League Final Four, and one of our season goals has already been accomplished,’ – after the game said Dragunas’ coach Gintaras Cibulskis.

Regular season champions and Final Four hosts Viljandi HC will face reigning champions Dragunas Klaipeda in the semi-finals. Polva Serviti and VHC Sviesa will meet in the other semi-final.

The BHL Final Four will take place on April 23–24 in Viljandi, Estonia.