A potentially decisive matchup at the PalaPanini for Game 2 of the Credem Banca SuperLega 5th Place Playoff Finals. On Tuesday, May 5th, at 8:30 PM, Valsa Group Modena and Itas Trentino return to the field for the second time in a matter of days, chasing a spot in the 2026/27 Challenge Cup qualification round. The match, live on DAZN and VBTV, could already end a best-of-three series. The home team is leading 1-0 after their sweep of Game 1 on Friday, May 1st.
The 93rd matchup between Valsa Group Modena and Itas Trentino could already be decisive. The Dolomites, playing away and leading 55-37 in previous matches, are trailing in the series and have their backs against the wall. With a home win, the Emilian team would seal the tie in just two games, securing a crucial fifth-place finish in the 2025/26 Credem Banca SuperLega and returning to Europe with a ticket to the next Challenge Cup, the third most important continental trophy reserved for club teams.
The difference in the first match—which saw Giovanni Sanguinetti celebrate 200 SuperLega appearances, all for Modena—were the serves of Alberto Giuliani’s men (10 aces to 5), with four winners from Paul Buchegger, the match’s top scorer with 18 and a 70% success rate. Vlad Davyskiba also performed well in attack (16 points on 61%, 1 ace, and 1 block, surpassing Fabio Vullo in the all-time ranking of top scorers for the yellow team) and Luca Porro (12 on 59% and 2 aces). The only player to reach double figures for the home team, who lost Jordi Ramon to a muscle injury just hours before the match, was Gabi Garcia Fernandez, who scored 60% of the points with 14 and 2 aces.
One former player per team: assistant coach Roberto Ciamarra on one side and Daniele Lavia on the other. Among the home team, Luca Porro is 17 points shy of 1,000 in the SuperLega, Vlad Davyskiba is 15 points shy of 400, while Paul Buchegger is 36 points shy of 500. Among the visitors, Alessandro Bristot is looking for his 100th point of the season.
Game 2 of the Final – Playoffs for 5th Place in the Credem Banca SuperLega
Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 8:30 PM
Valsa Group Modena – Itas Trentino
Referees: Vincenzo Carcione, Alessandro Pietro Cavalieri (Giorgia Adamo)
Video Check: Alessandro Scapinello
Scorekeeper: Carla Dalle Vedove
Live on DAZN and VBTV
(Possible) Game 3 of the Playoffs for 5th Place in the Credem Banca SuperLega
Friday, May 8, 2026, 8:30 PM
Itas Trentino – Valsa Group Modena (Live on DAZN and VBTV)
