Negrini CTE Acqui Terme needed just two sets to qualify for the semifinals of the Serie A3 playoffs. While qualification was in doubt until the very end during the regular season, the Acqui Terme team has literally turned things around in this second phase of the season. First, the turnaround in Gioia del Colle after a 3-2 defeat at home to Valenza, and then, in the first leg of the quarterfinals, a wonderful home victory against BCC Tecbus Castellana Grotte, a team that, in the regular season, came very close to winning the blue group, finishing second by a single point.
A match in which the Apulian team attempted to dominate in the first set, but then the Terme team reversed course, holding their ground in the next three sets.
Captain Iacopo Botto, who, while praising the team, keeps his feet on the ground, takes stock.
“There was a specific moment this season when getting to this point seemed almost impossible. However, we were able to roll up our sleeves and get to work hard, one step at a time, game after game. Thanks to this commitment, we have improved and grown steadily; now we are finally reaping the fruits of what we worked so hard to sow during the second half of the season. Despite the satisfaction of qualifying for the playoffs and making it through the round of 16 with a great comeback, we haven’t achieved anything yet. On Sunday, we won Game 1 of the quarterfinals with a great home performance against a really strong team, but we know that next Sunday an even more difficult match awaits us away. We may have a small advantage, given that we only need two sets to advance, but we know how difficult it will be. In the last first leg, we started off perhaps a little slow, while our opponents We pushed hard right from the start, playing the first set at a very high level. We did a good job of staying in, being patient, waiting for the right moment to show our best game. Fortunately, we succeeded in the next three sets, demonstrating our full potential and taking home the victory. Now we’ll go to Castellana with the same determination we showed on the court at home. I know that court well and I know we’ll find a very hot arena and a large crowd that will do everything to make things difficult for us. We’ll have to go out there with the right mindset, stay calm, and play our best volleyball.”
