CV San Roque advance to #CEVChallengeCupM 16th Finals after second straight-set win

Spain’s rookies CV San Roque LAS PALMAS are the first team to make it through the 32nd Finals of the men’s CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2025 after recording two 3-0 wins in as many matches they played on consecutive days with Norway’s BK TROMSØ. After securing their progression to the next round when leading 2-0, the team from the Canary Islands continued and finished the match in style with six young players from their own academy standing on the court. CV San Roque will play Greece’s standout PAOK THESSALONIKI in the 16th Finals. 

After their 3-0 victory from the night before, CV San Roque needed to claim another two sets to advance to the next round of the competition – which coincides with their historic debut in the CEV European Cups. The hosts caught a good start to the match keeping the number of mistakes at a low level and scoring through their middle blockers Anderson Grossi and Moisés Cezar. Outside hitters Mauro Fuentes and Erick Costa performed well too, with the coach of BK TROMSØ asking for a timeout when his team was trailing 6-11. French-born setter Clément Diverchy found much help from opposite Jose Pedro Pinto and Costa – who heavily contributed to a compelling 25-17 set win. 

The Norwegians responded well in the second set, improving their defence and scoring in attack with Even Jørgensen, Johannes Fagervold, Peder Sørheim and especially Petter Østvik. CV San Roque had to come from behind as their unforced errors helped BK TROMSØ stay afloat. However, star middle blocker Cezar returned to the court after being substituted earlier in the set and his signature block closed the set at 25-19 for the home heroes, thereby sealing their progression to the 16th Finals. 

At this stage, CV San Roque head coach Alberto Rodríguez decided to involve six youngsters in the game right from the start of the third set. Nicolas Omar Rodriguez, Alvaro Arocha, Alejandro Mollo, Alessandro Biliato, Antonio León and Pedro Erdocia all did well, thereby gaining valuable international experience. The fans enjoyed the match all the way until the end with another 25-19 win putting the cherry on top of the cake for the team from Las Palmas.