A somewhat unusual Christmas season, hopes for the new year, the first defeat of the season in the Gioia del Colle derby in the final match of 2025, and expectations for the second half of the season: taking advantage of the break in the Credem Banca men’s national A3 volleyball championship, Giuseppe Barbone, coach of BCC Tecbus Castellana Grotte, takes stock of the first half of the season.
The title of winter champion in the Blue Group, earned thanks to 23 points from eight wins in nine games, is just the starting point for the Apulian coach’s analysis: “It was an unexpected first half of the season in some ways. We knew that with hard work and the strength of the group, we could do well, and that’s exactly what happened. We play good volleyball, we have determination and clarity in key moments of the game, aggression, and certain characteristics. We mustn’t forget, however, that we are a very young team and must continue to work with great intensity. We finished 2025 as winter champions, but that doesn’t mean we can or should be complacent. Our first defeat came in Gioia: we must give our opponents credit, but we fought hard to the end with a balanced performance.”
