Cucine Lube Civitanova is coming from the 4 sets win in Poland versus PGE Skra Belchatóv in PlayOff 12 Game 1. After the quarterfinal series won versus Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia, now Lube will face another great opponent on their road to the big final of the tournament, the defending champs, who won the triplete in 2016, a team who had an important add for this playoffs, former biancorosso Dragan Travica, the italian national team setter who won 1 championship and 1 Supercup with Lube. Gianlorenzo Blengini’s is the favourite Number One for the final win, in first place in regular season and Del Monte Italian Cup fresh winner. Azimut Modena showed they never give up, after the great comeback in the quarterfinals versus Calzedonia Verona, coming back from behind also in Playoffs 12 in Poland versus Asseco Resovia Rzeszów and winning the game at the tie break. Lorenzo Tubertini (who stepped up as head coach on 7th february in place of Roberto Piazza) gave to the team more confidence, helped by an Earvin Ngapeth who found back a great shape in last games. Now Modena will face the best team of regular season, will not be easy for them to win this series, but at least they showed they can compete and do great comebacks.
Previous Matches: 74 (37 apiece)
Championship: 2 – 2 Regular Season 1 win apiece (3-2 Modena and 3-1 Civitanova).
Play Off: 17 precedenti nei Play Off Scudetto, (8 Civitanova, 9 Modena).
Former Players: Alberto Casadei Modena 2010-2011, 2012-2013 2014-2016, Dragan Travica Civitanova 2011-2013.
RECORDS
Championship: Enrico Cester – 15 attacks to 1000, Osmany Juantorena – 20 points to 2500, Tsvetan Sokolov – 27 attacks to 1500 (Cucine Lube Civitanova); Nemanja Petric – 5 blocks to 200 (Azimut Modena).
Gianlorenzo Blengini (Cucine Lube Civitanova): “We started think to semifinals versus Modena after the game versus Belchatow. Azimut is growing up, they had the critical moment in quarterfinals Game 1 versus Verona, then they stepped up and gained rhythm and confidence, together with quality. We do need to show our quality on sunday, we are working on this, after the trip from Poland”.
Lorenzo Tubertini (Azimut Modena): “The Champions League win in Resovia gave us enthusiasm. It was a suffered one, we reached the fifth set but we won, we were good in stay into the game and take home the win versus a tough opponent. Now we play the semifinals with great enthusiasm, we are gaining confidence, but sometimes we are not playing the volleyball level we would love to reach. We will face a very balanced team, complete in all the fundamentals, we will need continuity, trying to keep high the level of our attack. Kevin Le Roux has a sore knee, he’s questionable but probably will be ready. Orduna and Travica are both available, both showed good things, we will continue to play our way, we are united, we want to win, whoever will step on the court”.
