Cup Final Four: Coaches interviewed
The coaches of the four teams taking part in the Cup Final Four from tomorrow have been interviewed:
Alberto Giuliani (coach Lube Banca Marche Macerata): “We have not been exactly brilliant in the period preceding the Final Four but we have proved that we have in our DNA the capacity to do well in the knock-out games. The team will be up for it, we will not give up and will fight to go through against Modena, which is in great form and have not had an extra cup game in the legs. We’ll have to contain their servers and be careful at their fast-paced game. The target we had at the beginning of the season was to play as many finals as possible, and once you get there you start thinking about the trophy”.
Daniele Bagnoli (coach Casa Modena): “The first thing needed in such a game is a good attitude. Then there is the experience, which we lack compare to them in these type of games. Macerata is coming off a great breakthrough in the Champions League, they showed great quality. We are coming to the event with rather similar results, the capacity to adapt to the gym and the atmosphere will be key. We have our chances but we’ll need at least a good game, if not more”.
Radostin Stoytchev (coach Itas Diatec Trentino): “It’s been a very useful period in which we have taken care of the general understanding and improved on some aspects of our game. We also managed to get Djuric back from injury. I am satisfied with what we have done but I cannot not be worried ahead of the game because we’ll be up against an extremely well-organised team, which will probably risk it all to make it difficult for us. Belluno is going through a positive moment of form. They never stop to fight when things turn sour, they rarely lose their way and make big runs of mistakes. One more reason to face this game with maximum determination against the team that knocked out Cuneo”.
Roberto Piazza (coach Sisley Belluno): “We are going through an excellent moment of form in the league even if it can also depend on which teams you play against and at what moment. In the quarter-finals we managed to beat Cuneo, which was maybe not at its best but credit to the boys who took full advantage of this situation and qualified to the Final Four. One thing I’d like to underline is that Sisley, before as Treviso and now as Belluno, has always made it to the Final Four in recent years which is a great result. This year a few teams that had everything it takes to make it were eliminated. We are in Roma thanks to the will of the boys. Now we have to look ahead to the semi-final with confidence”.
Roma – PalaLottomatica
Saturday February 18 at 4pm
1st semi-final
Lube Banca Marche Macerata (1) – Casa Modena (4) Live on Rai Sport 1
(La Micela-Boris)
Saturday February 18 at 6.30pm
2nd semi-final
Itas Diatec Trentino (2) – Sisley Belluno (6) Live on Rai Sport 1
(Sobrero-Cesare)
Sunday February 19 at 5.30pm
Final Live on Rai Sport 1
(Saltalippi-Cipolla)
Serie A2 Sustenium
Round 24. Clash at the top between Castellana Grotte and Perugia
Edilesse Conad Reggio Emilia – Pallavolo Molfetta. Reggio is back on court following the postponed game in Sora (to be played March 3). The fight to stay up continues against Molfetta, third after its win in the derby against Castellana Grotte.
Club Italia Roma – Gherardi SVI Città di Castello. Club Italia plays host to Città di Castello, fifth and just four points away from third place.
BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte – Sir Safety Perugia. The leaders Perugia heads south to meet its main contender, the runner up Castellana Grotte which stands just four points behind. Huge three points at stake.
Cicchetti Isernia – Carige Genova. Back from Cantù with a crucial win, Isernia takes on Genova, who stands in the middle of the table.
Caffè Aiello Corigliano – Energy Resources Carilo Loreto. Corigliano took a point in Città di Castello last week but will try to put an end of a six-game run without a win as it entertains Loreto, which is coming off two straight home wins.
Sidigas Atripalda – Cassa Rurale Cantù. Clash at the bottom of the table: The hosts will try to take the three point to get away from the last two teams of the league (Reggio and Cantù). The latter will be without Valdir Sequeira who the club agreed let go.
NGM Mobile Santa Croce – Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora. Santa Croce hosts Sora after its fifth consecutive tie-break played and lost against Perugia last week. Sora did not play in the last round as the weather created impossible conditions to play regularly in its gym.
Crazy Diamond Segrate – CheBanca! Milano. Massimo Eccheli will make his debut on Segrate’s bench in the debry againsty Milan, which can leapfrog its opponent of the day. Segrate and Milan are tied at 42. Milan will also want to take revenge on the 3-0 conceded when the two teams met earlier this season.
Round 24 Serie A2 Sustenium
Saturday February 18 at 8.30pm
Edilesse Conad Reggio Emilia – Pallavolo Molfetta
(Luciani–Lot)
Club Italia Roma – Gherardi SVI Città Di Castello
(Carrara–Andreoni)
Sunday February 19 at 4pm
BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte – Sir Safety Perugia Live on Sportitalia 2
(Perri–Simbari)
Sunday February 19 at 6pm
Cicchetti Isernia – Carige Genova
(Gasparro–Oranelli)
Caffè Aiello Corigliano – Energy Resources Carilo Loreto
(Canessa–Ravallese)
Sidigas Atripalda – Cassa Rurale Cantù
(Pignataro–Chimento)
NGM Mobile Santa Croce – Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora
(Montanari–Piana)
Crazy Diamond Segrate – CheBanca! Milano
(Prati–Gelati)
League table
Sir Safety Perugia 54, BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte 51, Pallavolo Molfetta 46, Gherardi SVI Città Di Castello 44, Crazy Diamond Segrate 42, CheBanca! Milano 42, Carige Genova 39, Energy Resources Carilo Loreto 38, Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora* 37, NGM Mobile S.Croce 34, Caffè Aiello Corigliano 29, Cicchetti Isernia 27, Club Italia Roma 25, Sidigas Atripalda 16, Edilesse Conad Reggio Emilia 15*, Cassa Rurale Cantù 10
1 game in hand: Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora, Edilesse Conad Reggio Emilia
