Result:
Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora-Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 2-3 (21-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 12-15)
GLOBO BANCA POPOLARE DEL FRUSINATE SORA – TONNO CALLIPO CALABRIA VIBO VALENTIA 2-3 (21-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 12-15) – GLOBO BANCA POPOLARE DEL FRUSINATE SORA: Fabroni 3, Mariano 7, Festi 7, Santucci (L), Bacca 4, Rosso 29, Hoogendoorn 22, Buzzelli, Giglioli 2, Marrazzo, Sperandio 7. DNP Lucarelli, Mauti. Coach. Soli.
TONNO CALLIPO CALABRIA VIBO VALENTIA: Pinelli 2, Marra (L), Casoli 14, Michalovic 26, Forni 10, Vedovotto 7, Sardanelli, Presta 5. DNP Korniienko, Ferraro, Maccarone, Corrado. Coach. Mastrangelo.
Vibo Valentia lifts the Italian Cup A2 aloft for the second time running. Mastrangelo’s men had the better of Sora at the tie-break in front of over 6000 spectators in Assago’s Forum. This is the third cup of the club’s history as Vibo had won it in 2003. In their first final ever, the group of coach Fabio Soli went very close but a sluggish start and end of the game cost them dear. The 29 points of top scorer Rosso and the 48% of Sora in attack did not prevent Vibo from celebrating. The winners could count on the prowess of libero Marra, who had a tremendous night. The 25 serve mistakes of Sora were key too, as the holders of the trophy limited theirs to 12. The MVP award went to Michalovic who scored 26 points, showing composure and the killer touch in the important moments of the game. More cup glory for Filippo Vedovotto, who celebrates for the third consecutive year, having won it in 2014 with Padova. Big day for Cristian Casoli too, who made up for last year’s loss with Potenza against his current team in the final played in Chieti.
Fabio Soli (coach Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora): “It’s disappointing because we had the third set in our hands, but then they went on a run and turned things around. When Vibo was 2-1 up, we hanged in there and managed to get back in that fourth set and win it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do the same in the tie-break but against a solid and experienced squad like the one of Mastrangelo it was tough to get another come-back. I’m really sorry because we worked extremely hard to get there. But we can only try to learn from this experience and work so that such episodes don’t repeat themselves until the end of the regular season”.
Marco Fabroni (Globo Banca Popolare del frusinate Sora): “Vibo Valentia definitely has more experience than us in such competition, we’re still learning. I think the difference was that they were more prepared psychologically, more prepared to handle situations like today’s and obtain the result”.
Vincenzo Mastrangelo (coach Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia): “I had lost seven games in as many played in three years against Sora so far in my career. That was a good time to win that first one. We did a good job to keep pulling together in the third set when they were ahead and when we let that fourth set slip away. We knew we had to take care of details and maintain a high rhythm. Our focus will now turn to the playoffs. We’ll enjoy that victory for a couple of days and from Wednesday we’ll get back to work and focus on coming games”.
Cristian Casoli (Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia): “This is an immense satisfaction. I am so delighted. That was a battle till the very last rally but we clinched it. Volleyball is in my heart, I still love to play with my teammates. I dedicate this triumph to all of us and my family”.
PAST WINNERS
1997/98 Sira Falconara
1998/99 Cosmogas Forlì
1999/00 Della Rovere Carifano
2000/01 Pony Express Kappa Torino
2001/02 Copra Piacenza
2002/03 Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia
2003/04 Marmi Lanza Verona
2004/05 Codyeco Santa Croce
2005/06 Salento d’amare Taviano
2006/07 Sparkling Milano
2007/08 Marmi Lanza Verona
2008/09 Andreoli Latina
2009/10 M. Roma Volley
2010/11 NGM Mobile Santa Croce
2011/12 BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte
2012/13 Sidigas HS Atripalda
2013/14 Tonazzo Padova
2014/15 Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia
2015/16 Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia
