Cucine Lube Civitanova is the real favourite for the final win in the tournament. Clearly atop the Unipolsai Superleague standings, qualified to the Champions Leauge PlayOffs 12 eith the first place in the Pool after the great home win versus Berlin Recycling Volleys at Eurosuole Forum last wednesday, Lube will face in Quarterfinals Game 1 on sunday at 15 on the home turf Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia, who stunned Bunge Ravenna at Pala De Andrè last sunday clinching the last playoff spot in eighth place. Former players of Vibo now with Civitanova are Antonio Corvetta and Denys Kaliberda. In 26 games between Tonno Callipo and Lube, only 6 winsfor Vibo, and the trend of the seasons is more or less the same, will be difficult for Waldo Kantor’s team to shock the world eliminating Lube. But as we all know, never say never, Vibo is a great team who can fight until the end.
Previous Matches: 26 (20 Civitanova, 6 Vibo Valentia)
Championship: 3 – 2 times in regular season, 2 wins Civitanova (0-3 3-1) and 1 time in nei Del Monte Italian Cup Quarterfinals (Civitanova 3-0).
Play Off: 3 in Quarterfinals (3 Civitanova).
Former Players: Antonio Corvetta Vibo Valentia 2009-2010, Denys Kaliberda Vibo Valentia 2012-2013, Enrico Diamantini Civitanova 2010-2012 (Youth League) and 2012-2013 (16/11/12).
RECORDS
Championship: Davide Candellaro – 1 game to 200, Enrico Cester – 6 points to 1500, Osmany Juantorena – 5 attacks to 2000 (Cucine Lube Civitanova).
Championship and Italian Cup: Enrico Cester – 2 attacks to 1000, Jiri Kovar – 3 attacks to 100, Dragan Stankovic – 2 blocks to 400 (Cucine Lube Civitanova); Peter Michalovic – 2 attacks to 1500 (Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia).
Play Off: Dragan Stankovic – 3 blocks to 100 (Cucine Lube Civitanova).
Gianlorenzo Blengini (Cucine Lube Civitanova): “We have to reset everything, now our target is Quarterfinal Game 1 versus Vibo Valentia. We’ll face an opponent who strongly wanted this playoff spot, reaching their target. We’ll play without pressure, will be a tough game, we have to face it with the right mentality”.
Manuel Coscione (Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia): “finally we are in the most exciting part of the season, this is a great goal for us and for the front office. We know we will face the strongest team of the tournament, we have to be calm and playing without pressure because they are the favourites. We need to have fun playing at our best”.
