TIM Cup A1 Final Four
Exciting finals ahead:
Trento – Modena e Cuneo – Treviso
Everything is ready for the A1 Cup Final Four. The semi finals will take place in two days: it’s Trentino versus Modena and Cuneo versus Treviso. The league leaders, Trento, is the only team not to have ever won the trophy. The most titled one is Modena with 10 triumphs, Treviso has 5 and Cuneo 4. As for the players, Casoli and Papi collected five, Fei and Farina won four, and Mastrangelo three. With two victories, there are Grbic, and Wijmans. Amongst the coaches, Prandi is top with 4 cup triumphs.
TIM CUP A1 Final Four
Saturday 30 January at 3.30pm
1st Semi final
Itas Diatec Trentino – Trenkwalder Modena – Live on Rai Sport Più
Live streaming on http://www.raisport.rai.it/dl/raisport/multimedia/diretta.html
Live on Rai Tre a partire at 3.50pm
(Boris-Sobrero)
Saturday 30 January at 6pm
2nd Semi final
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo – Sisley Treviso – Live on Rai Sport Più
Live streaming on http://www.raisport.rai.it/dl/raisport/multimedia/diretta.html
(Cesare-Cinti)
Sunday 31 January at 3pm
Finale TIM Cup A2
M. Roma Volley – Zinella Bologna – differed on Rai Sport Più at 10.15pm
(Tanasi-Cappello)
Sunday 31 January at 6pm
Finale TIM Cup A1 – Live on Rai Sport Più
Live streaming on http://www.raisport.rai.it/dl/raisport/multimedia/diretta.html
(Sampaolo-Pasquali)
Itas Diatec Trentino – Trenkwalder Modena
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 29 (17-12 Trento)
Trento’s cup records: Semi final in 2001-02 (beaten by Cuneo), in 2005-06 (Cuneo).
Modena’s cup record: Ten victories: 1998 (Cuneo), 97 (Cuneo), 95 (Treviso), 94 (Parma), 89 (Treviso), 88 (Bologna), 86 (group formula), 85, 80 and 79.
Andrea Sala (Itas Diatec Trentino): “The fans and the club should not have any problem with the Italian Cup; the only reason why it hasn’t won it yet is because it has faced stronger opposition. The improvement of the club has been gradual through the years and to win this competition you need three consecutive perfect performances in just four days. Trento might not have had all the necessary resources to do that but I think it certainly has what it takes now. I’m therefore confident even if you can’t underestimate Modena, which is in great form and will make it difficult for us in the semi final. As usual, a lot will depend on the serve. If it goes as in the first set of the first league meeting, Modena could really hurt us. We’ll have to serve well too, otherwise Esko and Dennis will really hurt us with their quick combinations. We cannot take anything for granted but this will make for an entertaining and interesting game. The fans of our sport couldn’t ask any better”.
Mikko Esko (Trenkwalder Modena): “it’s the first time I take part in a Final Four and I am really excited. It’s really important to be here for us, the club and the fans. I can’t wait to play and the whole team is keen to show its quality: We have to believe in our ability. Our group is very united, this is one of our main strength. Still, Trento is the best team in Italy, solid and complete in every department. We’ll give it a shot and if we want to make it, we’ll have to play even better than against Treviso last Sunday”.
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo – Sisley Treviso
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 72 (47-25 Treviso)
Cuneo’s cup record: 4 victories: in 2006 (vs Piacenza), 2002 (Parma), 1999 and 96 (Treviso).
Treviso’s cup record: 5 Victories: in 2007 (vs Roma), 2005 (Vibo Valentia), 2004 (Cuneo) 2000 (Montichiari) and 1993 (Parma).
Nikola Grbic (Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo): “Treviso will really be up for it, without any doubt, it will be a tough game. They have just been defeated by Modena and are upset. But this year, they don’t have any European commitment, they had therefore the whole week to prepare the semi final. On the other hand, we went to France for the Cev Cup and went straight to Montecatini. Still, once on court on Saturday, it will be a whole new story. Even if Cuneo beat Treviso twice in the league, the Italian Cup resets everything”.
Samuele Papi (Sisley Treviso): “These are the great games to play. You should not be overwhelmed by the nerves or pressure, to play for a trophy is the best thing possible for a sportsman, so you have to enjoy those games and stay calm, with the sole will to have fun and give everything to win it. The team seems to be in form, despite the loss against Modena. We could have won there, we have been making silly mistakes of late. We let the opponent back in instead of sealing it. But on an in-or-out game, I’m sure things will be different. We proved that if we maintain our level of play and limit our mistakes, we can beat anyone. Even against Cuneo, which will be our opponent on Saturday. I don’t think the game lost in Treviso in January matters, this will be a different game and we will learn from the things that did not go well in the last few outings in order not to repeat the same mistakes. In the quarter final game against Piacenza, we played better, not only the three-nil score but also the level of play. That day, the team had the right enthusiasm and will to face that kind of important games. Hopefully, I will see the same looks on the faces this Saturday in Montecatini”.
TIM Cup A2 Final
The final of the A2 will kick off at 3pm. It’s Roma versus Bologna. On route to the final, Bologna beat Ravenna in the quarters and the league leaders Castellana Grotte in the semis. Roma got rid of Padova before knocking out Crema. Neither Bologna nor Roma has ever won the trophy before.
Sunday 31 January at 3pm
A2 Final
M. Roma Volley – Zinella Bologna– differed on Rai Sport Più at 10.15pm
(Tanasi-Cappello)
M. Roma Volley – Zinella Bologna
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 3 (2-1 Roma)
Roma’s cup record: 2 participation in the A1 and one in the A2.
Bologna’s cup record. 1 A1 cup victory in 1984.
Andrea Giani (M. Roma Volley): “it’s already a prestigious achievement to be in the final. To win it would be the ice on the cake in a season in which we have constantly been amongst the best teams in the league, and in which we have offered great moments of volleyball to the fans. Roma wants the cup and the league playoffs, which are the targets of the beginning of the season. We know we’re facing a tough game, because Bologna is in great form, and just like us, they want this trophy”.
Hugo Conte (Zinella Bologna): “The final is an important achievement for us, we reached our first target. We’ve worked very hard since August and we’ve improved a lot technically and mentally, but we should not forget that on the other side of the net, there will be a very strong team, with great players. Roma is the favourite, but I know Bologna can have a good game, they have a winning mentality and proved it was strong both technically and tactically. The outcome will be like always the consequence of how we will have faced and played the encounter, but our preparation is not solely focused on this game: there won’t be any pre or post Italian cup because I want the team as focused as ever every Sunday, I want it to give its best without looking at who is on the other side of the net or how important is the game. It will obviously be a different game, but which is part of the whole league program. There is still a long way to go”.
