The two finalists could claim a relatively modest cup history, as Falco could only win one of its six previous finals in 2021, while Sopron reached the finals of the MK for the third time after 1969 and 2014, and was able to conquer the cup again after 54 years.
About 1,500 fans gathered in the Tüskecsarnok for the last match of this year’s MK, the final was led by a deafening duel between the two camps. The will of Szombathely clearly prevailed on the court, which trailed 19–5 and then 24–8, mainly thanks to Benedek Kovács. Sopron several times caught up to around ten points, but Zoltán Perl, who recently extended his contract, excelled, the Vasians already advanced by 20 points, the score was 47-29 at the break.
After the half-time change, the difference continued to grow, Matthew Tiby caught the thread for the yellow-black team, and at 58-35 the game seemed to be decided. The tiring Sopron guard scored only 13 points against 24 in the third quarter, and this sealed their fate. In the final period, which started with a score of 71-42, only the extent of Falco’s victory was in question.
The most successful of the unexpectedly one-sided final was Perl with 15 points.
After 2021, Szombathely lifted the Hungarian Cup trophy for the second time.
The winner of the series will take home HUF three million, the silver medalist HUF 1.5 million, and the bronze medalist HUF 900,000.
Result, Tibor Zsíros Men’s Hungarian Cup:
finals:
Falco-Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely–Sopron KC 92–48 (28–15, 19–14, 24–13, 21–6)
best pitchers: Perl 15, Brown 13, Tiby 11, Cowels 11, illetve Barnett 11
for 3rd place:
Szolnok Olajbányász-Duna Aszfalt-DTKH Kecskemét 100-77 (21-17, 31-18, 24-21, 24-21)
Winners of the last ten years:
- 2013: Alba Fehérvár
- 2014: Szolnok Oil KK
- 2015: Szolnok Oil KK
- 2016: Egis Körmend
- 2017: Alba Fehérvár
- 2018: Szolnok Oil KK
- 2019: Szolnok Oil KK
- 2020: canceled due to the coronavirus epidemic
- 2021: Falco-Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely
- 2022: Szolnok Oil Miner
- 2023: Falco-Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely
(Cover photo: MTI/Tamás Kovács)