Red and white’s final blow in the Group Phase. Cucine Lube Civitanova, already qualified for the quarterfinals of the CEV Champions League well in advance, returns to success and wins Pool E with the fifth victory out of six matches played and a haul of 16 points out of the 18 available in the group. Today’s home success with the maximum margin (25-18, 25-15, 25-19) against the Flemish team Greenyard Maaseik, defeated for the second time after the previous 3-0 raid in Belgium, is the icing on the cake because allows the vice-champions of Italy, on the day of Francesco Bisotto’s European debut, to enter the grid as one of the three best leaders.
The hosts responded to the appeal of over 1,500 fans by playing a match with few errors, a lot of substance and 61% teamwork in attack. The Marche champions are led by captain De Cecco, MVP thanks to quality direction. Lagumdzija finished as a top scorer (15 points with 4 aces and 52% in attack). In just 73 minutes of play, Chinenyeze (11) and Yant (11), the first to light up at the start, also reached double figures. Among the guests in evidence was Cox (13 points with 1 ace and 55% positivity). Superior in service (7-4) and in block defense (6 blocks to 5), Blengini’s men thus erase the colorless test offered in Perugia and prepare to challenge Milan on Sunday 21 January (6pm) at home in the 4th of return of SuperLega.
Admitted directly to the quarter-finals, Lube will face in a double match the winner of the round of 16 between the Polish side Zaksa, who have won the last three editions of the Champions League, and the Turkish side Halkbank, who last year managed to oust the red and whites from the continental tournament right in the Quarterfinals (the Golden Set at the Eurosuole Forum was fatal). In case of access to the Semi-finals, the Italian vice-champions would find a rival between Berlin, Tours and Trento.
Cucine Lube Civitanova – Greenyard Maaseik 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-19)
CUCINE LUBE CIVITANOVA: Chinenyeze 11, Thelle ne, Motzo, Giani L ne, Lagumdzija 15, Nikolov 6, Diamantini 6, De Cecco, Bottolo ne, Yant 11, Bisotto (L), Zaytsev ne, Anzani ne, Larizza ne. All. Blengini.
GREENYARD MAASEIK: Lindqvist, Polak 4, Martens ne, Berkhout, Bartos 8, Iribarne 7, Hanzic 2, Cox 13, Perin (L), Vanker 2, Thys 1, Fornes 3. All. Bertini.
REFEREES: Kaiser (FRA) and Maroszek (POL)
SET DURATION: 23′, 24′, 26′. TOTAL 1h 13.
NOTES: Civitanova: 9 wrong serves, 7 aces, 6 blocks, attack 61%, reception 40% (12% perfect). Maaseik: 12 missed serves, 4 aces, 5 blocks, attack 42%, reception 45% (20% perfect). Attendance: 1,534. MVP: De Cecco.
