TIM CUP A2 – FINAL FOUR
THE TWO SEMIFINALS ON SATURDAY, THE FINAL ON SUNDAY
The TIM Cup A2 Final Four is getting closer. Marmi Lanza Verona, Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia, Premier Hotels Crema and Olio Pignatelli Isernia are ready to set the Isernia PalaFraraccio’s audience on fire, for one of the most looked forward appointments of the season for this cathegory.
Today and tomorrow the interviews to the TIM Cup A2 stars, one per team. Massimo Botti, Marmi Lanza Verona, and Mario Scappaticcio, Olio Pignatelli Isernia, will introduce the first semifinal on schedule this saturday at 18.00.
Tomorrow space to Raphael, Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia’s setter, and Roberto Cazzaniga, Premier Hotels Crema’s diagonal player, currently the Serie A2 TIM top scorer.
ON SATURDAY AT 18.00 VERONA – ISERNIA
THE WORD TO THE CAPTAINS: MASSIMO BOTTI
Verona has already won the Italian Cup in 2004, an unforgettable season for you. Together with Vibo Valentia you are the favourites again, do you think this could be a disadvantage for you guys?
I was not playing in Verona in the 2003/2004 season, the group who managed to win all the Regular Season’s matches and win the Italian Cup.
Gato won that Italian Cup with the Yellow&Blue shirt and last year it was Tabanelli’s turn with Milan; I won it in 1999 in Forli while Sottile did it with Turin in 2001.
Being favourites means that we proved something this season and this can only be an advantage because it means we have shown we have something more than the other teams.
You will face Isernia in the semifinal. What is their strength?
In the first semifinal we will meet Isernia, the teams who plays at home which is their strength. We have only met Isernia once this season, away, and we won 1-3 while the second leg will be at PalaOlimpia after the TIM Cup A2.
It is certainly a difficult grounds to conquer with so many supporters coming for this important appointment. Verona will have to play in a delicate ground, against a team who is playing a championship above expectations and they are flying on enthusiasm. Isernia has all experienced players including their setter who is their leader.
Of the 4 semifinalists, who is the favourite for the final victory?
Playing the TIM Cup A2 gives us the chance to keep our rhythm high which is vital at the end of the season. We consider ourselves the favourites and we are preparing to win this Cup, we will try and ut all our best qualities on court. Concentrating on each match will be crucial, preparing the challenge with Isernia very well and only after that we will think about the eventual final.
THE WORD TO THE CAPTAINS: MARIO SCAPPATICCIO
The organisation of the TIM Cup Final Four is a unique event for Isernia. Beign the “home team”, what are your feelings just a few days before such an important event?
Being able to play at home such a prestigious event like the TIM Cup A2 is the most beautiful thing that could have happened to us! Our feeling will be plenty because being one of the 4 teams playing the TIM Cup A2 is burden and an honour. We will have our supporters on our side who will push us to the final and from our side, we will have to do our best to leave court satisfied about how we faced this important event.
In the semifinal you will faca Marmi Lanza Verona, one of the strongest teams in Serie A2, the ones who beat youin the championship. How do you think you will beat them?
Having the ball falling on the other side of the net more times that they will! Verona is a strong team, they are “square”, built to fight and win. In the first leg they were good at capitalising some of our low moments, I hope this will not happen in the semifinal, also because we will want to make up for that shady performance.
I am sure it will be a difficult match, but a beautiful one and we will have to face it with plenty of concentration, but especially making a few mistakes because they are good at capitalising the opponent’s ones.
If you had the chance to get rid of one of their players, which one would it be and why?
Thinking about the first leg’s match i say Gato, because he anagedto give something more at crucial times. Both serving and attacking is an important terminal under any circumstances, he gives the team confidence so I would happily get rid of him.
THE PROGRAMME
SEMIFINALS – Sat March 15th
18.00
Marmi Lanza VERONA – Olio Pignatelli ISERNIA
REFS: Nunzio CALTABIANO – Massimo MARCHELLO
20.30
Tonno Callipo VIBO VALENTIA – Premier Hotels CREMA
REFS: Antonino GENNA – Marco BRAICO
<b<FINAL – Sun Mar 16th
18.15 – Live on SKY SPORT 2
REFs: Fabio GINI – Antonio LONGO
SERIE A1 TIM
THE WEEK END PROGRAMME
Sat Mar 15th, 18.00
Prisma Taranto – Itas Diatec Trentino (Live on SKY SPORT 2)
Sun Mar 16th, 18.00
M. Roma Volley – Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza
Antonveneta Padova – Famigliulo Corigliano
Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari – Cimone Modena
Lube Banca Marche Macerata – RPA-LuigiBacchi.it Perugia
Andreoli Latina – Sparkling Milano
Mon Mar 17th, 20.30
Sisley Treviso – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo (Live on SKY SPORT 2)
INDESIT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
THE PROGRAMME OF THE 6 TEAMS PLAY OFFS
Today, 19.00
A.S. Cannes (FRA) – Dinamo Kazan (RUS) (1st leg 0-3)
REFs: Arnaldo Rocha – Mykhailo Melnyk
Today, 20.30
Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza (ITA) – Panathinaikos Atene (1st leg 3-1) (live on SKY Sport 3)
REFs: Umit Sokullu – Borislav Pobornikov
Thu Mar 13th, 20.000
VFB Friedrichshafen (GER) – Sisley Treviso (ITA) (1st leg 3-2) (live on SKY Sport 3)
REFs: Frans Loderus – Angelus Cotoanta
