Parma-San Giustino, Playoffs bound

Direct clash in a Play Off key on Sunday afternoon at 18 at the PalaRaschi, where WiMORE Parma and ErmGroup San Giustino will face each other, paired at 29 in sixth place in the standings in the Girone Bianco of the national Serie A3 Credem Banca championship. With equal points, the highest number of victories obtained so far (eleven against nine) rewards, at the moment, the Gialloblù in a situation of great balance that sees five teams enclosed in a minimum gap in the group which also includes Belluno fifth at 30 and the Garlasco-Bologna duo, in the wake of minus one and currently out of the post-season phase which the top seven in the rankings will access. The comeback success in the home of Monselice bringing up the rear has made it possible to mortgage, even if not yet completely archive, the salvation issue and now the efforts of the remaining seven days can be concentrated on the search for a placement in the medium- tall. Same intentions of the Umbrians, who prevailed in three sets in the first leg and come from two consecutive victories against Montecchio Maggiore and San Donà in a path, to tell the truth, not so linear but characterized by some prestigious affirmations such as that of December against Pineto. It will also be the challenge between the Bulgarian opposites Hristiyan Dimitrov and Petar Hristoskov, and between the best centre-backs in terms of scoring in the entire A3 Series, Bara Fall and Augusto Quarta, respectively first and second in their role with 196 and 187 points. The experience of free Davide Marra, class of ’84, former national team and for a long time in A1 between the ranks of Piacenza and Vibo Valentia, is another aspect that complicates the plans of coach Andrea Codeluppi, who shows himself aware of the importance of at stake in a crucial match. “Certainly we are both in a favorable position in the standings which has the objective for both teams to enter the Play Offs. We are level on points with seven games to go, it is clear that if one team were to prevail over the other they would have a few more chances to achieve that goal. San Giustino is a very good team, it has some important strikers, from the Bulgarian opposite Hristoskov to the libero Marra who has played the Serie A fields for many years, beyond the complete squad it also has some outstanding individuals. The key to the game will be the quality of the game in general: in the last game, on our side, we took a few small steps forward with our serve which in the past we had identified as something to push a little harder, we hope to find continuity also in the next game on that fundamental.