Sam Deroo returned after a difficult ordeal, Lokomotiv finished the regular season with a victory
Belgian outside hitter Sam Deroo returned to the court after more than three months of absence, recording his first match since November 25 in Lokomotiv Novosibirsk's victory over Yaroslavich in the final 30th round of the Russian Super League regular season.
The team from Novosibirsk convincingly won 3:0 (25:22, 27:25, 25:21) in front of their home crowd, thus finishing the regular phase of the championship in fourth place, which secured their direct participation in the quarterfinals.
Return after treatment
The 33-year-old Belgian international started as a regular in Lokomotiv's outside hitter pair, but after the second set, he and Fyodor Voronkov were replaced by Alexander Markin and Omar Kurbanov.
Deroo's return carried a strong emotional charge. After the match on November 25, he returned to Belgium, where he underwent several courses of chemotherapy after a recurrence of an oncological disease was detected. That is why his reappearance on the court was one of the most commented moments surrounding the match.
Sam Deroo's Statistics
| Player | Points | Attack | Positive reception | Reception errors | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Deroo | 4 | 4/12 (33%) | 36% | 1 | -1 |
The statistics show that Deroo is still getting back into game rhythm after a long absence. His attack efficiency is 33%, and his reception is stable – 36% positive. The accumulated negative efficiency (-1) is logical given his limited participation and lack of game practice.
Bulgarian presence in the match
Setter Simeon Nikolov also contributed to Lokomotiv's success, finishing the match with 4 points and an efficiency rating of +1, including 2 aces from serves. However, Lokomotiv's concern arose in the second set when Nikolov sustained an ankle injury. The Bulgarian setter landed awkwardly after participating in a triple block and remained on the court briefly, holding his right ankle, which caused concern among his teammates. Nikolov left the game to receive medical attention, with the medical staff bandaging his ankle right on the bench. Initial indications suggest it is a minor sprain, which somewhat reassured the team's staff. An encouraging sign was the fact that at the end of the third set, the Bulgarian international briefly returned to the court. The first playoff matches begin on March 18, providing enough time for measures to be taken for the injury to subside.
We recall that last year Moni injured his left ankle when, during a VNL match in Burgas against Turkey, Lagumdzija Jr. stepped on his foot after landing from a block.
The top scorer for the winners was Rajab, who added 11 points.
The victory solidified Lokomotiv's strong end to the regular season, and the biggest news for the team is certainly the return of Sam Deru, which broadens the team's options just before the start of the playoffs.
