A feat, if there is one. This is the only way to describe the match awaiting Gabbiano Farmamed Mantova on Sunday, as they look to prevail on the Belluno court, overturn the series, and advance to the playoff semifinals. A victory in this case means a 3-0 or 3-1 victory, equaling the virtual points won by the Venetians in the first leg (which they won 3-1), and then also winning the Golden Set, which would be decisive in determining who advances to the next round. Belluno, on the other hand, needs to win two sets to secure the semifinals.
“We know we’ll need to play the perfect match,” explains sporting director Nicola Artoni, “but we want to try; we know we have the tools to cause problems, as was also evident in the first leg. We’ll have to be good at maintaining high pressure on serve and managing dirty balls, which, in many instances, made the difference seven days ago. We have nothing to lose, and I hope this helps us play with a clear mind and a clear hand.”
Having worked off the fatigue from Game 1, Gabbiano trained with full strength and a good dose of calm, which certainly helps in these times: “They might be missing their starting libero (Hoffer, injured at the end of the match at PalaSguaitzer, ed.),” Artoni continued, “and this could be a small advantage for us, but we know that Belluno has a deep and valuable roster, so they will certainly be able to compensate for this absence, which is not yet certain.”
Kickoff at the VHV Arena is set for 6:00 PM: Gabbiano wants to do everything it can to ensure this isn’t the last performance of their season.
