Exprivia Molfetta – Cucine Lube Civitanova 3-2 (18-25, 25-14, 25-22, 17-25, 15-12) – Exprivia Molfetta: Pontes Veloso 0, De Barros Ferreira 8, Polo 7, Sabbi 35, Olteanu 14, Vitelli 9, Porcelli (L), De Pandis (L), Del Vecchio 0, Leite Costa 0. DNP Hendriks, Jimenez, Partenio. Coach. Gulinelli. Cucine Lube Civitanova: Corvetta 1, Kaliberda 6, Stankovic 11, Sokolov 12, Cebulj 15, Cester 12, Pesaresi (L), Kovar 4, Grebennikov (L), Casadei 7. DNP. Candellaro, Juantorena, Christenson. Coach. Blengini. REFEREES: Florian, Lot. NOTES – sets: 27′, 26′, 28′, 23′, 18′; tot: 122′. MVP: Sabbi
As usual great atmosphere at PalaPoli, especially with the leader of the standings on the court. It was a great show between Lube and Exprivia, a great tie break win for Molfetta with Giulio Sabbi MVP of the game with 35 points, 7 aces for former Lube player, who probably wanted to show something to his former team. 11 aces versus 18 mistakes in the serve in favour of Exprivia. Without Candellaro, Juantorena and Christenson kept on the bench for some rest by Gianlorenzo Blengini, Lube won 25-18 the first set, suffering the attacks of Sabbi in second and third, lost 25-14 and 25-22, with the fans of PalaPoli crazy as usual, always supporting the team. In fourth Civitanova fought back, by winning 25-17 the set forcing the game to the tie break. In front 4-2 with a great ace by Giulio Sabbi, Molfetta seems to be able to win this game, but Jiri Kovar and captain Dragan Stankovic put on the ground some important balls, but in the end three aces in a row of Sabbi gave a great break to Molfetta, in front 13-11. A spike of Olteanu gave the win to the home team, who finished in the best way possible the regular season.
Jiri Kovar (Cucine Lube Civitanova): “We were good in first set, the we struggled in second and third. Molfetta deserved the win, we fought until the end to win the tie break. Giulio Sabbi was great all game long, this made the difference. Now we have to stay focused for the playoffs”.
Giulio Sabbi (Exprivia Molfetta): “We played for our fanse, after an high and lows season. I’m the best scorer of the tournament, because of my teammates and because of our fans, always beside us, in the worst moments of the season. We have to prepare the next games of post season”.
