The 'ahorradores' (savers) displayed remarkable superiority throughout the tournament, dropping only one set in six matches. The final, played at the Moisés Ruiz venue before over five hundred spectators, clearly reflected their consistent and effective performance.
The protagonist of the 2026 Junior Andalusian Championship final was receiver Marco Medici, in an authentic display of fortitude. His mother had passed away hours earlier, and he went directly from the funeral home to the pavilion to play the match, receiving affection from both teams and the stands at all times.
The match began with an emotional minute of silence in memory of Marco Medici's mother, a Mintonette player, who, despite the tragic loss, showed great resilience by participating. Unicaja Costa de Almería's dominance was evident from the start, with a solid game that allowed them to close the first set 25-16.
The second set was more contested, with Mintonette attempting a comeback, but Andrés Portero's team maintained composure and secured key points for a 25-23 win. Finally, the third set was again controlled by Unicaja, who maintained their high pace and sealed the victory with another 25-16, thus securing the title.
The tournament's MVP was Mario García, Unicaja's receiver, whose presence on the court brought stability to the team. Also noteworthy were Fran Oliver in reception and defense, and Jesús Ríos's game direction. Despite reception issues, Mintonette showed pride and spirit, especially in the second set.
Alongside Universidad de Granada, which secured third place, Unicaja Costa de Almería and Mintonette Almería will represent Andalusian volleyball in the upcoming Spanish Championship for the category, to be held from May 6 to 10. Subsequently, a combined selection of both Almería teams will participate in the Spanish University Championship in Granada.
