On Wednesday 3 November, Trentino will host Piacenza, a game that was initially scheduled on December 19 as part of the 10th round but which was forwarded due to Trentino’s commitment in the Club World Championships in Doha (Qatar), where it will try to retain its title. Stoytchev’s team took maximum points out of its first two encounters against Castellana Grotte and San Giustino while Lorenzetti’s team is still without a point. It will try to bounce back in the PalaTrento, where they had won the league title in 2009.
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 29 (16-13 Trento)
Emanuele Birarelli (Itas Diatec Trentino): “Trento – Piacenza is the match-up that characterised the last couple of seasons and as such, this is felt as a very special game. This was the end of an era for Piacenza this summer, they have changed most of their roster and it is starting off from scratch with a new group of players. This will be interesting to see at what level they perform. They have begun with two defeats but that can happen. It’s not easy to jell immediately, especially when the setter, outside hitter and middle blockers are coming from different places. That’s why we have to be very careful, because they need points and will be motivated by how fascinating this game remains”.
Paolo Maffi (General Manager Copra Morpho Piacenza): “The coaching staff and players would surely have preferred to spend the week to analyse and work on the Verona game. This game against Trento does not come at the best moment of the season. But this is the schedule that we have to face and we’ll travel there trying to make the best out of this tricky situation. We are definitely not favourite. Trento is the World Champion, while Piacenza has revolutionised its team and is looking for its first point. Last week, we talked about patience and optimism, today I’ll add the word ‘faith’. Faith in a group that is struggling to find its identity, faith in a team still looking to jell, which is normal, and faith in a staff that is undoubtedly working very well”.
