SERIE A1 TIM – PLAY OFF QUARTERFINALS
2ND MATCH ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
We are already at the in or out challenges. On sat and sun the second match of the Playoffs quarterfinals will give their verdicts.
They will be played at the grounds of the teams who qualified from the 8th to the 5th place at the end of the regular season, all called to win to avoid elimiation from the playoffs.
The possible match 3 is scheduled for thursday the 17th of april at 20.30 at the grounds of the team better qualified at the end of the regular season.
PLAYOFFS QUARTERFINALS – MATCH 2
Sat Apr 12th, 18.30
Cimone Modena – Itas Diatec Trentino Live on SKY Sport 2
Bartolini – Lavorenti
Sun Apr 13th, 18.00
Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza – Sisley Treviso
Santi – Saltalippi
Lube Banca Marche Macerata – M. Roma Volley
Barbero – Locatelli
18.30
Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo Live on SKY Sport 2
Cesare – Perri
Cimone Modena – Itas Diatec Trentino
(0- 1 in the series)
Match 1: Itas Diatec Trentino – Cimone Modena 3-0 (25-20; 25-19; 25-15)
The series: 1-0 Trento
Prev. matches: 25 (13 victories for Trento, 12 for Modena)
Prev. matches in the playoffs: 9 ( 5 voctories for, 4 for Modena). 2002/03 QF Modena wins the series 3-2. 2005/06 QF Trento wins the series 2-1.
In this championship: Cimone – Itas Diatec 2-3; Itas Diatec – Cimone 3-1
The exs: Sartoretti (Modena) in Trento from 2002 to 2005; Andrè Nascimento (Modena) in Trento from 2005 to 2007; Andrè Heller (Modena) in a Trento from 2004 to 2007.
Pietro Rinaldi (Modena): “We must fight until the very last ball. The defeat on wednesday is to be forgotten, we must reset everything and start again. They play an excellent volleyball but we want to take responsibility for everything. We owe it to our supporters, the club and the city”.
Radostin Stoytchev (Trento): “Despite the good success of match 1 we cannot be completely at ease, Modena will get their pride out in front of their own supporters and play at a high level. We must be mentally ready to play head to head, because this time it will be like that. We are not scared though, also because our motivations are good. On wednesday night we were very good and tidy from a tactical point of view, but confirming at those levels will certainly not be easy”.
Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza – Sisley Treviso
(0-1 in the series)
Match 1: Sisley Treviso – Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza 3-0 (25-23; 25-21; 25-21)
The series: 1-0 Treviso
Prev. matches:: 22 (12 victories for Treviso, 10 for Piacenza)
Prev. matches in the playoffs: 7 (7 victories for Treviso). Final 2003/04 and 2006/07 Treviso wins the series for 3-0.
In this championship: Sisley Treviso – Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza 1-3; Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza – Sisley Treviso 2-3
The exs: Boninfante (Piacenza) in Treviso from 1994 to 1997 and from 1999 to 2001.
Vigor Bovolenta (Piacenza): “We have lost a battle but certainly not the war; in the playoffs you have to think about the whole thing. Now we must use our grounds to win. Match 1 was not a good match: Sisley was more cynical at crucial moments. To go to match 3 we will have to be better at blocking and take advantage of the replays”.
Renan Dal Zotto (Treviso): “It will be a battle again, against Piacenza as usual. Match 1 did not lie with its 3-0, the sets closed only a few points apart. I expect a very balanced match once again between two teams who know eachother very well having pllayed against each other many times this season.
We still have some stuff to improve in some aspects of the game and we tried to find the solution to those in the last few training sessions, just like they did I think. Our setter? Saitta will start, having done well in match 1, but I know that in case of need Pujol will do his best”.
Lube Banca Marche Macerata – M. Roma Volley
(0-1 in the series)
Match 1: M. Roma Volley – Lube Banca Marche Macerata 3-0 (37-35; 32-30; 25-21)
The series: 1-0 Roma
Prev. matches:: 6 (5 vittorie di Roma, 1 vittoria di Macerata)
Prev. matches in the playoffs: 1 (1 victory for Roma)
In this championship: M. Roma Volley – Lube Banca Marche Macerata 0-3; Lube Banca Marche Macerata – M. Roma Volley 2-3
The exs: Miljkovic (Roma) in Macerata from 2000 to 2007; Molteni (Roma) in 2003/04; Mastrangelo (Roma) from 2002 to 2005.
Alessandro Paparoni (Macerata): “We must win and that is it, otherwise all the effords of the last month to get in the playoffs, what did I do it for? Ok, let’s be serious now, we do not want our adventure to end now. Match 2 must be ours at all costs, we know we can do it because we have a great audeince on our side.
The, once reached this first goal, we will go and play it all in roma again, next thursday”.
Osvaldo Hernandez (Roma): “On sunday Macerata will play at home. It will certainly be a difficult match, all you need to remember is the regular season’s match 10 days ago. We are aiming at closing the quarterfinals series straight away, without having to play a 3rd match also because it would mean having more days to rest before the next round”.
Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
(0-1 in the series)
Match 1: Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo – Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari 3-2 (26-28; 25-23; 25-21; 21-25; 15-11)
The series: 1-0 Cuneo
Prev. matches:: 50 (31 victories for Cuneo, 19 for Montichiari)
Prev. matches in the playoffs: 7 (5 victories for Cuneo, 2 for Montichiari). 1996/97 QF Cuneo wins the series for 2-1. 1998/99 QF Cuneo wins the series for 2-1.
In this championship: Acqua Paradiso Gabeca – Bre Banca Lannutti 1-3; Bre Banca Lannutti – Acqua Paradiso Gabeca 3-2
The exs: Gavotto (Montichiari) in Cuneo from 1998 to 2000; Sala (Montichiari) in 2003.
Simone Tiberti (Montichiari): “We left a beautiful performance behind us, on sunday will are playing at home with our supoorters in our favour which, I am sure, will be the 7th man on court at PalaGeorge and will make it all very hot”
Wout Wijsmans (Cuneo): “Having conquered match 1, at the end of a difficult match, and a very important result for us which gives us confidence for sunday. Let’s go to Montichiari to win and avoid match 3, which is always more dangerous. I believe it will be a great sport show even if difficult to win because Montichiari will be on the war path and is playing at home in a full palasport”.
This is the thing I like the most. Each player works hard during the year to have the chance to play this kind of match, important from a sport point of view but also for the audience. It does not matter if we will have their supporters against us: the main thing is to play in front of a numerous audience. Anyway many of our supporters will give us their support in Cuneo”.
SERIE A2 TIM – 13th round, 2nd LEG
ON SATURDAY PINETO-ISERNIA EARLY MATCH
Three rounds to go until the end of the season for the Serie A2 TIM, almost at the end. Nine points available to the 16 teams, 4 of which already know their destiny.
Tiscali Cagliari, Divani&Divani Avellino, Top Team Mantova and Framasil Cucine Pineto have automatically been demoted to Serie B1. The round will be opened with the Pineto-Isernia early match. On sunday the sardinians will visit Fiorese SpA Bassano who is asking for space to get to the playoffs and get away from the demotion zone once and for all after the exploit against Verona last week.
Avellino will host Monini Marconi Spoleto, still 5th before last in the standings, but still hoping to save themselves because Materdomini volley.it, only one point ahead, will have to play away against Esse-ti Carilo Loreto, third in the standings.
The challenge between Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia and Marmi Lanza Verona is likely to be exiting once again, Vibo flying to Lombardia to meet Top Team Mantova while Verona is hosting Codyeco Santa Croce who will have to defend their playoffs positions with their teeth.
A delicate match between SP TTTLines Catania and Stilcasa Salento s’amare Taviano. The victory could be decisive for either of the two teams for a place in the post season.
On sunday the TV deferement on SNAI Sat (SKY ch. 220) will be the big match of the day: live from Forli, Mare&Volley will be called to play at home against Premier Hotels Crema who could find their starting six again with Robreto Cazzaniga’s come back. An authentic playoffs challenge all to be watched.
WEEK END PROGRAMME AND REFEREES
Sat Apr 12th, 20.30
Framasil Cucine Pineto – Olio Pignatelli Isernia
Valeriani – Fagiolino
Sun Apr 13th, 18.00
Top Team Mantova – Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia
Toso – Zucca
Marmi Lanza Verona – Codyeco S. Croce
Cappello – Tanasi
Fiorese SpA Bassano – Tiscali Cagliari
Guerzoni – Piana
Esse-ti Carilo Loreto – Materdomini Volley.it Castellana Grotte
Falzoni – Pozzato
SP TTTLines Catania – Stilcasa Salento d’Amare Taviano
Astengo – Puecher
Divani&Divani Avellino – Monini Marconi Spoleto
Bertogna – Contini
Sun Apr 13th, 20.30
Mare&Volley Forlì – Premier Hotels Crema (Live on SNAI Sat ch 220 SKY)
Braico – Genna
SERIE A2 TIM STANDINGS
Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia 60; Marmi Lanza Verona 58; Esse-Ti Carilo Loreto 49; Stilcasa Salento d’amare Taviano 48; SP TTTLines Catania 47; Premier Hotels Crema , Mare&Volley Forlì 46; Olio Pignatelli Isernia 44; Codyeco S.Croce, Fiorese Spa Bassano 42; Materdomini Volley.It Castellana Grotte 38; Monini Marconi Spoleto 37; Framasil Cucine Pineto 25; Top Team Mantova 24; Divani&Divani Avellino 23; Tiscali Cagliari 19
VOLLEY ON TV AND RADIO
Sat Apr 12th
LIVE ON SKY SPORT 2
Cimone Modena – Itas Diatec Trentino from 18.25
Commentaries by Stefano Locatelli and Andrea Anastasi, tactical board by Franco Bertoli. On court with Luisa Gamberini.
Sun Apr 13th
LIVE ON SKY SPORT 2
Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo from 18.15
Commentaries by Roberto Prini and Luca Cantagalli, tacticla board by Andrea Zorzi. On court with Sandro Donatogrosso.
Sun Apr 13th
LIVE ON SNAI SAT
Mare&Volley Forlì – Premier Hotels Crema from 20.20
Commentaries by Stefano Locatelli and Andrea Brogioni
“VOLLEY TIME WEB RADIO”
Sunday afternoon with the streaming live on the Volleyball League’s website to follow minute by minute the Serie A TIM matches. Starting from 17.50 all the emotions live with live commentaries from Montichiari, Piacenza, Macerata, Catania and flash news from Verona, Loreto, Mantova, Bassano and Avellino.
Just go on www.legavolley.fm; or www.legavolley.it through an automatic pop up window.
“PALLAVOLANDO” – RADIO RAI 1
From 18.00 Pallavolando, Radio Rai 1 programme dedicated to the Serie A1 TIM , will follow the match between Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza – Sisley Treviso with Simonetta Martellini. Pierpaolo rivalta from Macerata.
STUDIO SPORT – TG5 SPORT
Italia 1 and Canale 5 sunday sport magazine will broadcast a special about the playoffs with images from the Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza – Sisley Treviso match.
Mon Apr 14th
SNAI SAT deferement
Mare&Volley Forlì – Premier Hotels Crema from 10.00
Commentoaries by Stefano Locatelli and Andrea Brogioni
BROADCASTING ABROAD
AL JAZEERA SPORT, SPORT KLUB POLONIA and SPORT KLUB SLOVENIA Cimone Modena – Itas Diatec Trentino (sabato) and Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo (live on sunday)
ESPN BRASIL – fri the 18th of april at 16.00 (Local Time) Cimone Modena – Itas Diatec Trentino and Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
BWIN.COM live on streaming with its GLOBAL MATCH worldwide: Cimone Modena – Itas Diatec Trentino (sat) and Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo (sun)
GAZZETTA TROPHY 2007/2008
ON SUNDAY THE AWARD CEREMONY
PRIZE GIVEN TO HRISTO ZLATANOV
On sunday at 13.00 at Grande Albergo di Roma’s restaurant, the Gazzetta Trophy 2008 will be given to Hristo Zlatanov.
Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza’s spiker will receive his second recognition by the sport magazine, established in 1973 by Carlo Gobbi. He will deliver the award together with Mario Salvini from the “Gazzetta dello Sport”.
The trophy choses the best player of the Regular Season on the basis of the points given in the Serie A1 TIM matches by the Gazzetta dello Sport reporters.
Each athelet receives a score from 6 to 1. At the end of the regular season, the player who collected more points receives the award.
Zlatanov collected 100 points, beating Nikolov with 89 and Kaziyski and Wijsmans together in third place with 87 points.