The curtain falls on the Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia season with the conquest of the CEV Champions League 2025, which came at the end of the Final Four played in Lodz (Poland) and concluded with the victory in the Final against the Polish team Zawiercie.
The Block Devils, with their first ever success in the competition, close their year by raising the most important continental trophy to the sky: a victory that came at the tie-break after taking home the first two sets.
At the awards ceremony, double joy for Simone Giannelli (MVP of the Final and best setter of the Final Four), Oleh Plotnytskyi (included in the ideal sextet as best spiker) and Wassim Ben Tara (best opposite of the three days in Lodz).
Below are the emotions and stories of the protagonists of Perugia after the victory.
Gino Sirci (President Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia): “I received many congratulatory messages, we made the fans of Perugia happy and not only. Winning here in Lodz, in a warm arena, is priceless. A great satisfaction: it was the only trophy we were missing”.
Angelo Lorenzetti (coach Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia): “We are happy. I came close four times before yesterday, but reaching the Final is still a great journey. The emotion that took me at the end of the game is linked to the boys, to what they had and have experienced in the last period. I couldn’t unlock them and this made me feel bad, because I love them. It was a constant game. Suddenly, the game entered us more, you can see that it had to end like this”.
Simone Giannelli (captain Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia): “An indescribable emotion: yesterday was a feat. After the elimination from the Play Off Scudetto we were tough in continuing to train and believe in our group. The boys followed me, I tried to give my contribution and I am happy: both for the victory itself, but above all for the journey. That is really important”.
Agustin Loser (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia): “An incredible moment: for me it was a dream, as it is for every volleyball player. It is difficult to find the right words to describe what we are feeling. It is the first time for the club, we are happy to be part of the history of this club. The championship did not go as we hoped, but we closed the year in the best possible way”.
Oleh Plotnytskyi (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia): “We didn’t finish the championship as we wanted, although it must be said that we qualified for the Champions League. As I often say, we stayed together from the first to the last moment. The victory represents a big step forward: something we will remember for the rest of our lives. I had my family here, it was a great moment. I waited a long time for this victory. Ours was an incredible group: we managed to improve despite the high level, thanks go to the staff and to Lorenzetti”.
Massimo Colaci (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia): “The cycle doesn’t end with this Champions League: I’m enjoying this achievement but the hunger doesn’t end, we still have a lot of it. I still want to win. I chose Perugia because the idea of being the first to win something stimulated me, every year we’ve brought home some trophies. That’s no small thing. We’ve been chasing this Champions League for a long time, we’ve finally achieved it”.
Yuki Ishikawa (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia): “I am very happy to have won the Champions League: it is my first triumph in the competition, which came at the end of a very tough match. The championship went so-so, but winning the Champions League makes us very happy”.
Kamil Semeniuk (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia): “Perhaps I haven’t yet digested it: for me it’s the third victory in the Champions League. I’m delighted and very happy with yesterday’s success. But above all, I’m proud to be part of this club and this team, a trophy that has finally arrived in Perugia. Thanks to the medical staff who were able to get me back on track after the injury I suffered on Saturday, allowing me to return to the court and experience these sensations”.
