Del Monte Italian Cup A2
Padova, Sora, Matera and Monza fight for the title
The final four of Italian Cup A2 will kick off on Saturday in Monza. The two semi-finals are Padoba versus Sora followed by Matera versus Monza.
Del Monte Italian cup Serie A2 – semi-finals
Palaiper – Monza (MB)
Saturday January 11 at 4.30pm
Tonazzo Padova (1) – Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora (4)
Saturday January 11 at 7pm
Coserplast Openet Matera (2) – Vero Volley Monza (3)
FINAL
Palaiper – Monza (MB)
Sunday January 12 at 5.30pm Live on RAI Sport 1
Tonazzo Padova – Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora
They are currently the top two teams in the league, but Sora was drawn against Padova as it was fourth at the halfway point of the regular season. They met 15 times in history but this will be the first time in the Italian cup. None of them has ever been further than the semifinals. In the most recent encounter, Padova was led by the pair Rosso-Giannotti en route to a 3-0 home victory. However, Femoglio’s boys have been extremely consistent in the league since Alla Verissimo Silva De Araujo’s arrival at the end of December.
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 14 (9-5 Padova)
In the A2 cup: None
Padova in the cup:
22 participations: One semi-final in 2010-11 (beaten by Santa Croce)
Sora in the cup:
4 participations: Two semi-finals in 2010-11 and 2012-13, knocked out by Ravenna and Atripalda.
Mattia Rosso (Tonazzo Padova): “Right now Sora is one of the most dangerous sides. Besides a top quality pair of middle blockers, our opponents have the best pair of setter-outside hitter in the A2. Silva De Araujo further strengthened a team that plays now better in reception. We’ll play without fear, looking for what would be a huge victory. The wins over Monza and Matera gave a big boost to the team, we know we can make it difficult for anyone”.
Marco Fenoglio (coach Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora): “I think between the two, our semi-final is the toughest one. This will be a great challenge between the first and second of the league. This is a very important game for us that will surely be played at a high level, and the team that will make less mistakes and will manage to stay focused will win it. We know we have what it takes to go to Monza and make it into the final. The only thing I hope is to get there without any physical problems in order to send on my best line-up. If that was not to be the case, we’d do the best we can with the boys available like we’ve done in the last period, in which we still managed five consecutive wins”.
Coserplast Openet Matera – Vero Volley Monza
Full debut in the Italian Cup for Matera on its second season in the A2. They deservedly qualified thanks to a great run. Mastrangelo’s boys showed all their quality from day one. Setter Pedron did a great job of distributing to his spikers: Krolis and Joventino Venceslau. On the other side of the net, Monza will have the privilege to play this final four at home. They will count on Padura Diaz’s firing power to create chaos in the opposite dig and reception to qualify for the final. In the league, Matera had hosted and won the encounter 3-1.
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 3 (2-1 Matera)
In the A2 cup: None
Matera in the cup:
First ever participation.
Monza in the cup:
1 participation: Beaten in the quarters by Molfetta in 2012-13.
Vito Gaudiano (CEO Coserplast Openet Matera):“We are proud to take part in the Italian cup final four for the first time. For Matera this represents an unexpected achievement. Let’s cross our fingers and let the best team win!”.
Simone Tiberti (Vero Volley Monza): “The Italian cup is always a unique event. All the teams are equal in the starting blocks. We have a little advantage by playing home, but I think Padova is the favourite to win the trophy. We’re motivated, eager to bounce back from our defeat in Matera in the last round”.
PAST WINNERS
1997/98 Sira Falconara
1998/99 Cosmogas Forlì
1999/00 Della Rovere Carifano
2000/01 Pony Express Kappa Torino
2001/02 Copra Piacenza
2002/03 Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia
2003/04 Marmi Lanza Verona
2004/05 Codyeco Santa Croce
2005/06 Salento d’amare Taviano
2006/07 Sparkling Milano
2007/08 Marmi Lanza Verona
2008/09 Andreoli Latina
2009/10 M. Roma Volley
2010/11 NGM Mobile Santa Croce
2011/12 BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte
2012/13 Sidigas HS Atripalda