Cisneros La Laguna Clinches Copa del Rey Berth with Dramatic 3-2 Victory

It seems the saying about saving the best for last holds true. Cisneros La Laguna ended 2025 with a remarkable 3-2 victory over a strong Pamesa Teruel team. After an intense two-and-a-half-hour match, the Tenerife team celebrated a win that not only sent them into their holidays with extra joy but also secured their qualification for the Copa del Rey.

The match was exciting from the start, with Teruel's strong blocking constantly battling against Cisneros's cohesive play. Fabián Flores broke the tie with three consecutive blocks, and Fran Duque soon added to the defensive effort, forcing Teruel's coach, Fabián Muraco, to call a timeout (15-12). The home team's momentum continued, with Sergio Noda eventually sealing the first set 25-20.

Cisneros made a couple of errors at the start of the second set, meaning the La Laguna team had to fight hard from early on (3-5). Coach Miguel Rivera rallied his team when they were down 8-11, and though he managed to spark them, Teruel repeatedly prevented Cisneros from leveling the score. Eventually, the pressure told, and Noda delivered with two impressive plays, tying the match at 16-16. Cisneros even took the lead, but the Teruel players held firm and won the set 25-22.

Cisneros found their rhythm again at the start of the third set, but couldn't pull ahead significantly until Frac's strong serving run (15-10). Their joy was short-lived, as the visitors tied the score at 18. In a back-and-forth battle, the islanders secured a 3-0 run (21-18) that seemed decisive. Frac then gave his team three set points (24-21), but Cisneros couldn't close it out. The set turned into a tense battle that ultimately went to the Aragonese side, 28-26.

The fourth set started with Cisneros trailing (2-4), but the La Laguna team managed to recover and tie it at 8-8. Sleurink and Hugo López joined Noda in their efforts, but Teruel remained firm (15-16). In the decisive moments, the visitors took a 20-23 lead. However, after a timeout, Cisneros came out with renewed determination. They tied the score at 23, and with Hugo López shining, a crucial block by Flores took the match to a tie-break (27-25).

There was no better way to end the year than with a thrilling fifth set between two great teams. Cisneros dominated defensively, and at 14-8, a visitor's serve into the net unleashed wild celebrations at Ríos Tejera. This victory allows them to dream of the 2026 Copa del Rey, before they take a short vacation and prepare for an upcoming trip to Melilla.