Europe: Final Four
2012 Champions League
The playoffs 6 are over. Trentino, Izmir and Kazan are the ones that will join the hosts of Belchatow in the final four to be played on March 17-18. The home side will take on Izmir in the first semi-final, while the Italians of Trento will be up against Kazan, in which there is setter Valerio Vermiglio, who played for many years in Italy. Trento versus Kazan is also a repeat of last year’s final, won by the Italians 3-1 in Belluno.
2012 Champions League – PlayOffs 6 return legs
Trentino PlanetWin365 (ITA) – Lube Banca Marche Macerata (ITA) 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-21) Golden Set 15-9
Arkas Izmir (TUR) – Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (RUS) 3-2 (25-27, 18-25, 25-22, 25-23, 16-14) Golden Set 15-11
VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) – Zenit Kazan (RUS) 0-3 (21-25, 21-25, 24-26)
Schedule
2012 Champions League Final Four – Atlas Arena, Lodz (POL)
Saturday March 17, semi-finals
2.30pm
PGE Skra Belchatow (POL) – Arkas Izmir (TUR)
5.30pm
Trentino PlanetWin365 (ITA) – Zenit Kazan (RUS)
Sunday March 18
Game for thir dplace at 2.30pm
Final at 5.30pm
Del Monte Italian Cup A2
Final Four
Just 15 days after the Italian Cup A1 in Roma, all the attention turns onto the Italian Cup A2, which will take place in Andria. This will be Castellana Grotte’s eight participation, Perugia and Molfetta are playing only their second season in the A2, while Molfetta was newly promoted this year. Quotes to follow:
The referees
Maurizio Cardaci, Torino
Antonino Genna, Torino
Massimo Florian, Altivole (TV)
Bruno Frapiccini, Falconara Marittima (AN)
Rossella Piana, Carpi (MO)
Andrea Pozzato, Bolzano
Del Monte Italian Cup Serie A2 Final Four
Saturday March 3, semi-finals
4pm
Crazy Diamond Segrate (1) – (4) Pallavolo Molfetta
6.30pm
BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte (2) – (3) Sir Safety Perugia
Sunday March 4 at 5.30pm
Final Live on Rai Sport 1
Crazy Diamond Segrate – Pallavolo Molfetta
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 2 (Molfetta won both)
Segrate in the cup
First participation
Molfetta in the cup
First participation
Massimo Eccheli (coach Crazy Diamond Segrate): “Our minimum target is the final. We’re going to Andria to do everything possible to win the Italian Cup, which is one of our targets. Given the second part of the season we’re having, it’s obvious we’re no favourite. Besides we’re facing Molfetta that beat us twice in the league. But that doesn’t mean the result should be taken for granted. We have prepared ourselves physically and tactically and we are extremely motivated”.
Emiliano Giglioli (Pallavolo Molfetta): “We want to do our best, this will surely be an extraordinary event. Playing the cup so near from home is extremely motivating. We’ve been preparing like for any other game, we’re trying to train as well as possible to arrived there ready and focused. Motivation will surely not go amiss”.
BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte –Sir Safety Perugia
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 2 (2-0 Castellana Grotte)
Castellana Grotte in the cup
7 participation, 4 in the A2 Cup, semi-finals in 2007 and 2010. 3 in the A1/A2 cup: 16th of final in 1996.
Perugia in the cup
First participation
Gaetano Carpinelli (President BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte): “The Final Four was one of our targets at the beginning of the season. We are happy to have made it because this represent a good step in the right direction for our young club. We’ll try to be worth playing in such an important event and play at the best of our ability for all our fans. This event will particularly underline how volleyball in Puglia is becoming important. The people of this sport here are always ready to convey the passion that led the region to where it is now”.
Vincenzo Tamburo (Sir Safety Perugia): “I won the Cup with Santa Croce last year and the MVP award of the final against Ravenna. It would be great to repeat that performance, I’ll do everything possible to do it. I’d love to experience again with my teammates the intense emotions that only a victory like that can give you. Useless to say how motivated we are, we have worked hard to get there and we have been training as hard as usual. As for the semi-final, we know Castellana Grotte’s level very well. They are very strong, we have met them just a few days ago. I wouldn’t read too much into their last defeat against Reggio Emilia, I don’t think it can matter much for Saturday’s game. On the contrary, their current situation might give them extra motivation to bounce back and prove their worth. But we’re ready to give everything we have to reach the final”.
