Favaro salutes

Gioele Favaro, too, has said goodbye after just one season with ErmGroup Altotevere. A serious ankle injury during a joint training session in Macerata at the end of September had robbed the 23-year-old Venetian spiker of a good portion of the regular season. He entered the game on the second day, at home against Conad Reggio Emilia, and until the fifth day he was only used as a second line hitter. He then scored his first points of the season on the sixth day, in a match against Negrini Cte Acqui Terme in San Giustino. His true championship effectively began in the eighth day, in a home match against Sav Trebaseleghe, when he scored 10 points, and has been consistent ever since. Favaro’s record for the white-and-blues is 103 points, including 81 on offense, 10 serving, and 12 blocking. “Unfortunately, what happened in Macerata,” Favaro recalls, “affected my season on a personal level, but fortunately it didn’t slow down the team from achieving its goals.” It’s also true, however, that Favaro has been a starter in some matches and his performance has continued to improve. At times, he’s even proved to be the decisive card played at the right time by coach Marco Bartolini: “It happened especially at home in the playoffs against Sabaudia and then against Sarroch. I was pleased to be the player who, when used in that particular situation, was able to turn the game around. As for my physical condition, even though the injury has been behind me for some time, I’m still working with the physiotherapist.” Favaro has no particular regrets, except for one: “That of having to leave a club where I’ve had such a great time. I therefore hope that mine is also a ‘see you later’ and not a ‘goodbye’: Volley Altotevere strives to take a step forward every year, and I want to do the same.”