Jan Stokr is the MVP of february
Jan Stokr has been voted MVP for the month of February. Perugia’s spiker won the coveted acknowledgement thanks to four nominations in as many games in February, in which Perugia successively beat Pineto, Loreto, Forli and Latina. In those games, the Czech spiker respectively scored 21, 17, 25 and 24 points. He will receive his award during Perugia’s next home game, scheduled on Sunday 14 March at 6 against Piacenza.
European Cups
Trento, Piacenza and Perugia tomorrow
Cuneo on Thursday
Trento is preparing the Champions League playoffs 6 first leg, which will take place tomorrow in Italy at 8.30 against Rzeszow, Poland. The opponent is third in the Polish PlusLiga and it reached that stage by knocking out CSKA Sofia in the previous round.
“Tomorrow we’ll only play the first half of a game that will be concluded in Poland in 6 days – explained coach Radostin Stoytchev – We should not lose our focus at any moment of this challenge. Rzeszow did not get this far by chance, they have great quality players and will surely make it tough for us, especially in the return game with the important help of its fans. That’s why we have to do our best to win the first leg and possibly with the maximum margin in order to have a better chance in Poland. Given the level of the teams, you could well say this is like a semi final. The character and level of play shown against Verona in the last game makes me confident. We are finding our best form and level again”.
The return leg will take place in Poland on Tuesday 9 March at 6pm. The winners of the playoffs 6 will go through to the Final Four, which will take place in Lodz on the 10 and 11 of April.
There will also be the Cev Cup on Wednesday, with Piacenza versus Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle, Poland, in the challenge round return leg. Marshall and Meoni, injured, stayed in Italy, and will be substituted by Jacopo Massari and Federico Boschi. In the first leg in the PalaBanca, Lorenzetti’s boys had won 3-0. In case of parity, the golden set to 15 will be played.
Meanwhile, still in the Cev Cup challenge round return legs, Cuneo will take a 3-2 advantage home against the Spaniards of Teruel. The game will be played on Thursday at 7.30pm.
In the Challenge Cup, Perugia will need a set to earn its ticket to the semi final of the competition which will take place on the 27 March. Indeed, the Italian squad swept the Belgium side of Asse-Lennik in the first leg at home.
“We have been working a lot for this return game – said coach Di Pinto – Our preparation was focused on Wednesdays’ encounter in the Challenge Cup, we ran the risk of being penalised in the league, but we had to make a choice. Savani has a little contracture at his abdomen which is not disturbing him too much. We are working on Bovolenta’s knee to help his recovery. The great load of work that had to be done in the past by some to cover the injuries is starting to take its toll”.
Fixtures
Indesit Champions League – Playoffs 6 first leg
Wednesday 3 March at 8.30pm
Trentino BetClic – Asseco Resovia Rzeszow (POL) – Differed on Sportitalia from 10.20pm (226 of Sky)
Indesit Champions League – Playoffs 6 return leg
Tuesday 9 March at 6pm
Asseco Resovia Rzeszow (POL) – Trentino BetClic
(Feldshteyn-Zdravesky)
CEV Cup – Challenge Round return leg
3 March at 6pm
Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle (POL) – CoprAtlantide Piacenza
(Iliescu-Mihajlov)
4 march at 7pm
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo – Cai Teruel (ESP)
(Fattah-Goncalves)
GM Capital Challenge Cup – Quarter final return leg
3 March at 8.30pm
Euphony Asse-Lennik (BEL) – RPA-LuigiBacchi.it Perugia
(Guillet-Roussakis)
