World Club Championships 2014
Trentino earns first victory
Trentino Diatec-UPCN San Juan 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 38-36, 22-25, 15-11)
TRENTINO DIATEC: Suxho 3, Ferreira 11, Solé 14, Sokolov 25, Lanza 16, Birarelli 11, Colaci (L); Van Dijk, Burgsthaler. Dnp. Sintini, Thei, Mazzone. Coach. Roberto Serniotti.
UPCN SAN JUAN: Filardi 12, Ramos 14, Theo Lopes 25, Olteanu 24, Santos Junior 4, Gonzalez 4, Garrocq (L); Fernandez, Tell, Lloveras 3. Dnp. Lazo e Peres Lopes. Coach. Fabian Armoa.
On the sixth anniversary of the first league title (May 7 2008), Trento shined again by obtaining its first victory in the World Championships over UPCN San Juan. The tie-break win against the Argentine side keeps the Italians in the race for the semi-finals. Serniotti’s men will however have to beat the Tunisian team of Esperance tomorrow.
The opening loss against Al Rayan had Trento playing with pride in what was already an in-or-out encounter. This remake of the game for third place of 2013 was a great show once again. There were a lot of mistakes but it was very tight. Trento proved more composed in the clutch time though. Sokolov finished top scorer with 25 points (48% in attack) while captain Birarelli gathered six blocks.
Roberto Serniotti (coach Trentino Diatec): “It’s been an extremely difficult game, exciting, without ever a break, but we won it and can hope of a semi-final berth. I am also satisfied with the way the team faced the difficulties along the way. We might not have always been consistent but we never gave up, as you could see in the third and fifth set. But now we must immediately focus on tomorrow’s game against Esperance Tunisi, as important as the one we have just won”.
Fixtures
Thursday May 8
1.00: Sada Cruzeiro – Belogorie Belgorod Live on Fox Sports 2 HD
22.00: Trentino Diatec – Esperance Tunis Live on Fox Sports 2 HD
Friday May 9
1.00: Belogorie Belgorod – Matin Varanim Live on Fox Sports 2 HD
22.30: First semi-final (1a Pool A – 2a Pool B) Live on Fox Sports 2 HD
Saturday May 10
1.30: second semi-final (1a Pool B – 2a Pool A) Live on Fox Sports 2 HD
21.30: Game for third place Live on Fox Sports 2 HD
24.00: FINAL 2014 Live on Fox Sports 2 HD
