A three-point win (3-0 or 3-1) and a chance to qualify for the Golden Set: Bcc Tecbus Castellana Grotte has only one way to advance to the Playoff Semifinals of the Credem Banca men’s national A3 volleyball championship. This is the legacy of the first leg of the Quarterfinals played last weekend in Piedmont against Negrini CTE Acqui Terme, who won 3-1.
Therefore, for the team coached by Giuseppe Barbone, there is only one chance to secure a spot in the next round of the postseason: Game 2 will be played on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Pala Grotte in Castellana.
As is well known, the Quarterfinals are also played on a home-and-away basis (and possibly a Golden Set), with the second game and possible Golden Set taking place at the home of the team with the best points-per-game ratio (in this case, Castellana Grotte). The Golden Set (to 15 points) is played only when two teams finish the home and away matches with an equal number of points (3 points are awarded for a 3-0 or 3-1 win, 2 points for a tie-break win, and 1 point for a tie-break loss).
This will present BCC Tecbus with a real challenge, especially considering Acqui Terme’s strong form in their last two matches (the return match with a comeback against Gioia del Colle and the first leg against Castellana Grotte). New Mater is also forced to rely on home advantage: in the ten matches played at Pala Grotte this year, the yellow-blues have won nine, seven of them by three points. On the other hand, Negrini CTE has won only three of their eleven away matches (two between October and November and one against Gioia in the playoffs). These numbers and statistics somehow comfort BCC Tecbus in a situation that remains difficult and will also require the support of the Apulian public.
