All in or all out. A single match, Game 3, will shape the future of ABBA Pineto and Alva Inox 2 Emme Service Porto Viro in the quarterfinals of the Serie A2 Credem Banca Promotion Playoffs. The picture is as clear as it is uncertain: the series ended with one win each, a 3-1 victory for the white-and-blues on April 12th at the Pala Santa Maria, and a similar result, but with the roles reversed, in the second round played on April 15th in Veneto. Now everything returns to Abruzzo, with ABBA, thanks to the favorable home-field advantage resulting from first place in the regular season, going all out on Sunday (6:30 p.m.) with the support of their fans. Speaking of which: another well-attended evening is expected, yet another, in a Palavolley ready to simmer with passion for the team that has already won the Del Monte® Coppa Italia and Del Monte® Supercoppa in their category this year.
The client, Alva Inox 2 Emme Service Porto Viro, has already proven to be a tough opponent. Despite the result, Matteo Bologna’s team had already demonstrated their strength in Game 1, underscored by a particularly positive trend. In the second match, last Wednesday in Veneto, these assessments were further reinforced in a match that Porto Viro swept to victory, challenging ABBA’s reception and finishing with 10 total aces, along with nine winning blocks.
Pineto, enjoying a remarkable season thus far, is planning its response. “The Porto Viro match was tough,” confirms opposite hitter Matheus Krauchuk. “They came in very fired up, while we lacked a bit of composure in some specific moments that later proved crucial. We’ll need to be more focused in these challenging moments that the match can present, continuing to play our volleyball, as we’ve shown we can do so well.” The positive side is that we’re back to playing right away, so there’s no time to dwell too much. The defeat,” Krauchuk continues, “will provide us with even more energy and the desire to reach the semifinals. Furthermore, on Sunday we’ll be playing at home, with the support of our fans, a factor that has meant so much to us so far this season. The energy of the Pala Santa Maria will help push us; it can make the difference, and it has already done so in our campaigns in the league, Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa. They’ve followed us everywhere, and we’re very happy to have them by our side in this very important match.”
