Ravenna facing Pineto

There couldn’t have been a more beautiful match to play and experience in the stands on the final day of the A2 championship regular season. Consar Ravenna, fourth in the standings with 52 points, faces league leaders Abba Pineto, who have 55 points, tomorrow afternoon at 6:00 PM at the Pala De Andrè. They are certain of fourth place but know that a win would allow them to climb a few positions, even if at least one of the two teams tied for second place—Brescia and Prata, who are away—fails to slip. Tomorrow’s fixtures also focus on qualification for the Super Cup on April 5th, as the regular-season leader will face Coppa Italia winners Pineto. If Pineto finishes top of the table, the second-place team will compete for the trophy. This is why tomorrow’s match counts double for all four teams. But regardless of the numbers, the very fact of having reached this point is a tangible testament to the season Goi and his teammates have had, finishing in the top four for the third year in a row.
Against an Abba side fresh from five straight wins and having held every point in the second half of the season, except for the match in Macerata, Valentini’s team responded with an open streak of four consecutive wins, five in their last six matches, and with a level of physical and mental condition and quality of play that returned to those of the first two months of the championship, when Ravenna strung together eight consecutive victories. “This is definitely a game that can be considered a dress rehearsal for the playoffs,” explains Consar center Filippo Bartolucci, “and it’s a match that can further demonstrate our current status and level. We’re not just looking at the others: we know that improving on our fourth-place finish isn’t enough with just one win. We’re focusing on ourselves and then we’ll see at the end of the game where we’ll finish and what opponent we’ll face in the playoffs. Within the group, there’s confidence, enthusiasm, and the right energy, knowing we’re facing a strong, quality opponent who has proven their worth. We’re also eager for revenge, having lost our two games this season to Pineto, one of which was the Coppa Italia semifinal, which was very important to us. We’re feeling good and are ready to face this challenge, knowing we can count on the support and cheering of our fans.”