Trentino is back in the Final Four of the Champions League four years after its last appearance. 3-0 winners in the first leg last Thursday, Stoytchev’s men made the double over Belgorod by winning the return leg at the tie-break. Trento participated in the last act four consecutive times from 2009 to 2012 and they won three of them.
“We’re the surprise team of the Champions League – said coach Radostin Stoytchev – There were probably not many people thinking we’d go to the Final Four at the start of the season but that’s the beauty of sport. I am really happy for the boys who really deserved this result. In the first leg we had played at 120% of our abilities, but in spite of that 3-0 win, there was still a lot to be done tonight. We had to fight hard and we made it. We played with a good attitude but we’ve been a bit lucky at the end of the third set with that ace from Antonov, he really showed courage and was rewarded for it. There is a totally different team compared to the Final Four 2012, so credit to the club for being able to get back at the highest level and find some new players with excellent mentality and fighting spirit”.
Belogorie Belgorod-Trentino Diatec 2-3 (17-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 14-16) BELOGORIE BELGOROD: Ivovic 12, Makeshin 3, Danilov 19, Tetyukhin 7, Smolyar 10, Antipkin 1, Bragin (L); Khtey 5, Kosarev, Martyniuk (L), Krasikov 9, Muserskiy. Dnp. Lesik. Coach. Gennadi Shipulin and Vadim Khamuttskih.
TRENTINO DIATEC: Nelli 14, Antonov 11, Van de Voorde 8, Giannelli 5, Urnaut 18, Solé 7, Colaci (L); Lanza 3, Bratoev 1, Djuric, Mazzone D. 4, Mazzone T. 5. Coach. Radostin Stoytchev.
