Reigning Spanish national champions crowned winners of inaugural Iberian Cup

This past weekend the first edition of the Iberian Cup, a competition involving the best teams from Spain and Portugal, was organised jointly by the Royal Spanish Volleyball Federation and the Portuguese Volleyball Federation. The women’s tournament took place in Viana do Castelo, in the north of Portugal, while the Men’s Iberian Cup was held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Two teams from the Canary Islands, reigning champions of their respective national leagues, CV Hidramar Gran Canaria and CV Guaguas, crowned themselves the first winners of this competition that will further expand the rivalry between the two neighbouring countries.

Home heroes claim Men’s Iberian Cup 

CV Guaguas beat Sport LISBOA e Benfica (3-1; 25-23, 25-22, 19-25, 25-18) in the final of men’s competition. The yellow team won all their matches in front of their home fans, beating the two Portuguese teams, starting with Sporting CP LISBOA 3-2 in a thrilling semi-final, to take the gold medal against Benfica in an exciting final match.  In the fight for bronze, which also took place at the same venue just before the final, Sporting CP defeated the Spanish team Grupo Herce SORIA at the end of another drama-filled fixture (3-2; 25-27, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-13).

CV Hidramar victorious in Viana do Castelo

CV Hidramar GRAN CANARIA beat Sporting CP 3-2 (31-29, 19-25, 17-25, 25-18, 15-12) to become the first team to lift the women’s Iberian Cup trophy. In the match for the third place, held earlier and which pitted CV Tenerife Libby’s LA LAGUNA against Leixões Sport Club, the Spaniards prevailed 3-2.