Second surprise result: Lube knocks out the favorite Itas and returns to play for a trophy. The final against Verona on Sunday at 3.30pm
The Italian Cup final is Verona-Civitanova. The least likely, according to the championship ranking. Civitanova must build a monument to Porya, and to Balaso. And to all his people, of course. But at the end of a wonderful tiebreak (26-24 24-26 14-25 25-22 13-15 the partials), point by point, with Trentino ahead by a break, Balaso contained the disadvantage with two monstrous defenses, finalized by Bottollo. It could have been 13-10, it went 12-11. Medei put the Iranian at bat. And he hit two aces. Then Bartha kicked out. And it ended 15-13 Civitanova.
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The first set would be a case study in how crazy volleyball can be. Trento gives the feeling of being able to leave, when before halfway they are already at +5, at 11-6. Instead, a block from Dirlic and an insidious turn at bat from Loeppky put Civitanova back under. Until 16-15 Trento. From then on Itas will only score 3 points. Yet he will win the partial. It means that Lube does everything, with 7 serving errors, but also with Loeppky’s enthusiasm, two very classy attacking shots from Bottolo and Boninfante’s courage in forcing two counterattacks in the first half with Chinenyeze. The second of which gives Civitanova the first lead of the match at 24-23. For set ball. Obviously – at that point – wasted with a wrong joke from the French Olympian himself. Then quick out by Gargiulo. Set ball Trento. Ace by Michieletto and 1-0. Very nice, the second set. With two actions (6-5 Civitanova and 9-9 by Garcia) of those to be reviewed in Instagram stories, with a series of truly heroic defenses. Partial all played point to point. Except for the break from 22-21 to 24-21 in Civitanova. On the 24th with a printout from Chinenyeze on Bartha. And the great thing is that the Romanian center back from Trento doesn’t get upset even a bit. Sbertoli has a ball change from his first half, and then also the counterattack of 23-24. With Lavia inventing a billiard shot to cancel the third set, it’s 24 all. And then everything ends just as the decisive phase had opened: Chinenyeze’s block on Bartha and 1-1. Third set with a beautiful “Civitanova” writing on it. Lube didn’t let Trento play. Two great rounds at bat: Boninfante from 7-6 to 10-6, then Lagumdzija from 15-9 to 18-9, closed the games. A very high level for the people of the Marche region.
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And then Trento came out with the serve: 4 aces to reach 14- (2 from Bartha, also author of a block, one each from Garcia and Lavia). So that Itas took a 20-13 lead. Boninfante dug another furrow on serve, Nikolov entered, Bottolo invented another historic shot. And we reached 23-22 Trento. There Garcia found a shot, with a blocked shot, to make it 24-22. Who sent Michieletto into service. Alessandro, after the ace that closed the first set, was at 2 out of 20 in attack, at 10%. A misery, a crazy effort. But there he found another decisive ace. He then made a comment which he thought it best to cover with his hand. Maybe. Then it was a tiebreak, and Lube took the final
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