For the Italian champions there are less than three months before the start of the SuperLega Credem Banca 2022/23 with 12 teams, with the first round scheduled for the weekend of 2 October. A few days after the official closure of the volleyball market, the new formula of the championship takes place under the umbrella illustrated by Massimo Righi, president of the Serie A Volleyball League. Chicco Blengini, Cucine Lube head coach, also got an idea about the modification, but reserves the right to confirm it at the end of the tournament.
The most adrenaline-pumping phase will undergo a significant change, the one that from the end of the Regular Season will lead to the assignment of the Scudetto and seats for the European Cups. The two Play Off finalists will access the CEV Champions League. Same fate for the winner of the Final for the 3rd place, a novelty just announced, while the loser of this experimental ‘final’ will go to the CEV Cup. Confirmed the Play Offs 5th place with the pass for the Challenge Cup at stake: to open the dances will be a preliminary between the formations ranking from 9th to 11th place; the winner will join the four losing teams of the quarter-finals to create a group with five one-way matches followed by semi-finals and final in a one-way match.
Chicco Blengini: “Like any novelty, it must be tried! The idea that we can get by reading the new rules then has to be tested on the field. For me, the season finale will be more spectacular thanks to the integration of interesting matches with the third decisive slot for the Champions League at stake. It will be verified how two disappointed teams after the semifinals will be able to face this ‘final’! It must be said that the stakes will not be a bronze medal, but the pass for the most important continental event. The change will also modify the management of the Regular Season in terms of general reasoning. The placement in the Play Off grid will be important, but the dynamics in the sprint of the first phase could change as the winner of the Regular Season will no longer be admitted to the Champions League by right. There is a third aspect to underline and of this I am sure! The use of the movement on a media level will be very positive! Having more quality matches in the final round will spark interest by increasing the visibility of volleyball. This is good for us who work in volleyball! “
