The time of reckoning has arrived. After a long run, which began just before the Christmas holidays, Monge-Gerbaudo Savigliano has reached the point of risking their hopes of staying in Serie A3 Credem Banca in the playouts, with home-field advantage in their favor and a Game 1 to be played at the PalaSanGiorgio in Cavallermaggiore, exceptionally at 6:00 PM on Saturday, March 21st.
The opponent. Their sparring partner in this long marathon, which could extend until April 25th, the date chosen for Game 5 of the series, will be Terni Volley Academy, the ninth-ranked team in the Blue Group at the end of the regular season. The Umbrian team concluded their “efforts” with 13 points and second-to-last place in the standings, the result of 3 wins and 15 losses in 18 seasonal matches. Their record, however, includes six tie-break defeats (and two victories), which brought as many points and, above all, confirmation of the quality of a team that often competed on par with its opponents. The last of these defeats, however, was a devastating one: a 3-1 defeat at home to Green Volley Galatone, who, prevailing in four sets in front of a fiery crowd, maintained their divisional status, precisely at the expense of Cristiano Camardese’s men. The Umbrian season has been complex and at times similar to that of Savigliano. Terni, in fact, has also entrusted its bench to its assistant coach (Camardese), relieving Leondino Giombini, who had been head coach since the beginning of the season, in mid-February. On the court, Volley Academy’s strengths include Martinez’s opposite hitter, who scored 30 points against Lecce, and their position in the top four, strengthened by the arrival of Lukasz Ciupa from Mongolia in January. In short, an opponent brimming with individual talent.
