Starting from the Pala Pirastu comeback, looking to the return match with the same values as Cagliari, and completing the qualification process at Pala Grotte: on Sunday, March 29, 2026, with the first set at 6:00 PM, in Castellana Grotte, Game 2 of the Round of 16 Playoffs of the Credem Banca men’s national Serie A3 volleyball championship will be played between BCC Tecbus Castellana Grotte and CUS Cagliari. Seven days ago, the Apulian team came from behind to win 2-3 in the first leg.
The two teams, therefore, given the playoff format, will once again face off against almost every possible scenario: the team coached by Giuseppe Barbone has the small advantage of being able to lose in the tie-break and still play the golden set. A scenario and a risk, obviously, that New Mater doesn’t even want to consider.
“In Cagliari, we won a very tough match in which we weren’t perfect, but we managed to stay in the match,” coach Barbone commented this week. “We encountered some difficulties, going down 2-1 for the first time this season, but in the end, we showed we have character and determination. I’m proud of this group, regardless of what we do in these playoffs. The win against Cagliari was important because we took the series in our hands. Now it’s clear that we’ll need to show the same intensity in the return match. On Sunday, I expect the crowd to continue supporting us as they did in the derby against Gioia. Because volleyball is a defining characteristic of Castellana, and it’s wonderful that the community is rediscovering the joy of this sport.”
