TRENTO- To get closer to the Champions League Final in the best way, but also to take part in the 2025 edition as well. Itas Trentino began the Final series for 3rd place in the Play Offs this evening at the ILT Daily Arena with a difficult but deserved victory over Allianz Milano which takes them a first promising step towards qualification for the highest continental trophy (guaranteed to those who win three of the five scheduled matches).
The 3-2 imposed on the Milanese comeback is once again the result of the pride and character that the Italian Champions have already demonstrated during all the previous forty-three matches of the current season; despite the recent defection of Lavia (injury to the rectus abdominis, which was added to the long-standing injury of Sbertoli, who is still on the bench today), Soli’s team has in fact found, over time, the right dimension to adequately face the commitment and find the victory that she had been missing for ten days. Milan, without Kaziyski (also out due to injury), was able to have a better impact on the match, taking advantage of the Gialloblù’s difficulties in building the game, but after finding themselves 1-2 ahead even in a daring way (Trento won the third 8-3 set, then lost 23-25), suffered a comeback from the hosts. The recovery passed through the hands of Rychlicki (21 points with 4 blocks and 57% on goal: mvp), Michieletto (17) and Magalini, who was able to quickly get into the match atmosphere as demonstrated by his 19 points with two block and an ace. It was precisely the blocking that was able to bring the Italian Champions back to the top, scoring 16 times and increasingly containing the pair of Reggers and Ishikawa (44 points between two), on a day in which the serve was only two aces guaranteed. From this point of view, the contribution to the net of the usual Kozamernik (4 blocks), but also of Podrascanin and also of Acquarone (2) is of vital importance.
THE PROTAGONISTS-
Fabio Soli (Itas Trentino Coach)- « It probably wasn’t a good match, but winning it had a particularly important meaning for us. In the last period we have spent a lot of energy and tonight we certainly did not have the best possible physical and mental resources; therefore, all the more reason to congratulate the players, because today we were caught several times by Milan but we always found a way to restart and then win the match. It was neither easy nor obvious to do but we managed it, putting everything we had into play.”
Damiano Catania (Allianz Milan) – « I think it was still a good match, despite its ups and downs. There are some great players on the other side too. We did better in the break phase and struggled on the ball exchange instead. In the fourth set there were two questionable refereeing decisions that we got a little nervous about. This is something that should never be done. Then in the tie-break we had the balls to come back but we weren’t able to and in the end those four actions made the difference.”
THE SCORESHEET-
ITAS TRENTINO-ALLIANZ MILAN 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19, 15-11)
ITAS TRENTINO: Acquarone 4, Michieletto 17, Kozamernik 9, Rychlicki 21, Magalini 19, Podrascanin 8, Laurenzano (L); Sbertoli, Peace. Ne Nelli, D’Heer, Cavuto, Berger, Garcia. Coach Fabio Soli.
ALLIANZ MILAN: Mergarejo Hernandez 8, Vitelli 5, Porro 2, Ishikawa 20, Loser 10, Reggers 24, Catania (L); Zonta, Dirlic, Floor 1. Ne Kaziyski, Starace, Innocenzi, Colombo. Coach Roberto Piazza.
REFEREES: Giardini, Puecher
Set Duration: 28′, 26′, 28′, 27′, 17′; Total: 126′
MVP: Kamil Rychlicki (Itas Trentino)
Spectators: 1,830
Tags: Trento suffers wins Game Milan
