The buildup to the Del Monte® Supercoppa SuperLega Final Four is in full swing, with the PalaTrieste hosting two days of top-level volleyball over the weekend of February 28th and March 1st.
The event’s press conference is tomorrow.
With the Regular Season concluding yesterday evening, the teams arrive at the Trieste event eager to secure a new trophy before the playoffs begin. The Supercoppa, now in its thirtieth year, will offer thrills and spills over the two days, with four of the world’s best teams ready to battle it out.
The Final Four press kit
Below, as we approach the Final Four, are statements from the coaches and captains of the four participating teams.
Itas Trentino Coach Marcelo Mendez
Marcelo Mendez (Itas Trentino coach): “After the one at the beginning of the month in Bologna, we’ll once again be protagonists in a prestigious Final Four, and we’ll take to the field with the same goal: to fight for every ball to try to defy the odds and give ourselves a great weekend, even in Trieste. We know that a very difficult match awaits us in the semifinals, because Perugia isn’t the top-seeded team and the defending champion by chance, but we’ll give it our all to make things difficult for them and keep the Itas Trentino colors flying high.”
Riccardo Sbertoli (Captain, Itas Trentino): “The Del Monte® Supercoppa Final Four, like the Coppa Italia, is a wonderful event played out entirely in a single weekend. We’ll arrive in Trieste with much the same spirit we had in Casalecchio di Reno: a strong desire to experience the thrills the competition can offer and to perform as best as possible. Unfortunately, we’re living with some uncertainty as we don’t know exactly how we’ll perform on the pitch, given the prolonged emergency we’re experiencing. However, we’ve certainly found a way to cope well with this situation, and mentally, this won’t be an obstacle. We’ll be playing against a very strong team like Perugia, who will have the same desire as us to qualify for the Final; we’ll try to focus solely on our game because we want to give the fans another wonderful evening like the one at the Unipol Arena.”
Giampaolo Medei (coach Cucine Lube Civitanova): “We’re ready to give it our all in this unique tournament, coming at an unusual time of the season. It’s a different competition than the Regular Season: here, it’s all-or-nothing, and every detail can make the difference. Verona proved this by winning the Del Monte® Coppa Italia, a sign that they know how to thrive in these types of matches. We believe in our abilities, but we know it won’t be easy. To advance, we’ll need to give it our all, with high-level volleyball and great consistency. We’re focused on our form and the quality of our play. I expect a tight semifinal, perhaps a long and hard-fought one. In the end, the team that shows the most consistency over the weekend will lift the trophy. Playing the Super Cup between February and March could increase the technical value of the event: the teams arrive more well-oiled and with a better balance than at the start of the season.”
Fabio Balaso, Civitanova Captain
Fabio Balaso (Captain, Cucine Lube Civitanova): “We have two intense days ahead of us. For the first time, the Super Cup is being played between the end of the Regular Season and the start of the Playoffs; therefore, both we and our opponents will be in better shape than in the past. Playing for a trophy is always a huge motivation. We must stay focused on the objective and give it our all to win the Super Cup. Our previous matches against Verona? Every match is unique. Our two wins this season have given us confidence, but to beat them again, we’ll need a top-level performance, taking it one ball at a time and causing problems for them right from the serve.”
Fabio Soli (coach Rana Verona): “We’ve had a very exciting and rewarding journey so far, which naturally raises the level and expectations for this group. The post-Del Monte® Coppa Italia period didn’t allow us to push as hard as we would have liked and increase the intensity and level of play, but in the Super Cup we want to have our say against an opponent who hasn’t let us win a single set in the league. We’re coming in fired up and confident we can do well, even if we’re not in the best physical and technical condition. I’ve told the guys, however, that the energy we’ve shown so far can give us a lot on the court, even if we’re not physically perfect. However, in any important event, it’s difficult to count on a group where every player is 100 percent.”
The grit of Rok Mozic, captain of Rana Verona
Rok Mozic (captain of Rana Verona): “We are approaching the Super Cup with a great sense of responsibility. For the Club, it is a historic achievement, one we embrace with pride and with the knowledge that we have achieved it day after day, through the work and growth of the group. Unfortunately, we are still dealing with health challenges that have affected part of the team, but this has made us even more united and determined. We have demonstrated character and a spirit of sacrifice, qualities that will be crucial in a competition of this level. We want to take the field with energy, clarity, and hunger, to best honor this special occasion and try to give our fans another great thrill.”
Angelo Lorenzetti, Perugia coach, during a timeout
Angelo Lorenzetti (coach Sir Susa Scai Perugia): “The difference between the Del Monte® Super Cup and the Coppa Italia was that the Super Cup usually came at the beginning of the season and therefore without any previous work. This season, the two competitions can be similar in some ways. I think, as I told them, the boys have been great many times this year; they should enjoy their experience in Trieste! They’ve worked hard, and now we have to play with determination, regardless of how we start. The semifinal against Verona taught us something: we need to get back to playing in games like this.”
Simone Giannelli (captain Sir Susa Scai Perugia): “It’s always great to be part of a competition like this. It will be a high-level Final Four because they are all very strong teams. It’s a bit disappointing because I think it loses its point to play it at this stage of the championship: after the Coppa Italia and so close to the playoffs, it’s a backlog of games. This is my opinion and I want to share it because it’s nice to play the Super Cup at the beginning, but that wasn’t the case. We’ll play it and we’re still eager to win it because it’s a prestigious title, so we’ll give it our all to do our best. It will be a tough tournament, but we’ll do everything we can to be ready.”
The Schedule – Del Monte® Super Cup
Semifinals
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 3:30 PM
Itas Trentino – Sir Susa Scai Perugia (Live on Rai Play and VBTV)
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 6:00 PM
Cucine Lube Civitanova – Rana Verona (Live on Rai Sport and VBTV)
Sunday, March 1, 2026, 3:00 PM
Final (Live on Rai 2 and VBTV)
