The play off dream continues for Smartsystem Fano who, after eliminating Modica and Motta di Livenza, will face Belluno in the semi-final.

The level of difficulty now rises further, also considering the fact that the Belluno team were able to take out the battleship Palmi, this year’s winner of the Italian Cup and Super Cup, in the quarter-finals.

The Venetians, who came second like Fano in the regular season, have gradually improved in condition and will arrive in Fano (match with kick-off at 7pm) in excellent shape: “We have the field factor in our favor – states Pietro Margutti – we know what we have to do, we have worked all week to be ready for this appointment.”

Mr. Colussi’s boys (only 2 defeats suffered in the championship from December onwards against Mirandola and Mantova) are fresh from an invigorating away victory (3-0 in Palmi) and will rely on a consolidated game system which includes the former Ortona Ferrato in the control room, Bisi (many seasons in A2) as opposite, Mozzato and Antonaci in the centre, the Polish Bucko on the flank with Schiro or Reyes, Martinez as libero.

Fano for its part will try for the umpteenth time to rely on the favorable field factor (match 2 on Wednesday 1st May in Veneto and possible match 3 in Fano on Sunday 5th May) even if, after Motta’s exploits, the moral and psychological strength of the fanesi has skyrocketed.

Coach Mastrangelo, after the intelligent “minestrone” of substitutions made against the Mottensi team, is aware that he has a long and reliable bench, an extra element that could prove decisive in these playoffs.