Brescia. Consoli deservedly beats Reggio in the decisive Game 3 of the round of 16 of the A2 Italian Cup and prepares for the quarterfinals with Siena. The match was one-way for two sets and then after the lost set, Zambonardi’s team did well not to get upset and found their way to success. The contribution of Klapwijk and a rediscovered Cominetti with Erati MVP were substantial. On Wednesday the Toucans will be back on stage at San Filippo at 6pm for Game 1 of the quarterfinals against the Tuscans. Game 2 on Sunday 5 May in Siena with possible golden set.
Starting six
Brescia relies on the official sextet with Tiberti-Klapwijk on the opposite diagonal setter, Abrahan-Cominetti at the back, Candeli-Erati in the center with Pesaresi free. Reggio Emilia changes a spiker compared to Game 2 (Preti for Suraci) and relies on the former Catellani as director. The opposite Gasparini, the central players Sesto and Caciagli, the young Guerrini band and the libero Torchia complete the sextet.
The match
Brescia escapes to 13-7 thanks to excellent blocks from Abrahan, Erati, Candeli and Klapwijk (at the end of the set there will be 5 for Brescia). The Toucans keep the pace with authority and score the plus 8 at 17-9. Caciagli in service scores a break for Reggio until 13-18. But Brescia concentrated and determined with an attacking hat-trick from Abrahan soaring to 22-14 and shortly thereafter closing the set 25-15 with a nice diagonal shot from Cominetti.
With the lineups unchanged, the start of the second set sees an immediately authoritarian Consoli (14-7). In the wake of the first set, Abrahan continues to hammer accompanied by the good spirit of Candeli who is also felt in the serve with an ace of 17-9. In the final, a super defense of Erati kicks off an exchange that draws applause from San Filippo and allows Cominetti to make it 21-15. Abrahan and Klapwijk do the rest and close without worries 25-18.
The third set recorded a small decline in Brescia which allowed Preti and his teammates to reach 9-5. The Toucans shook themselves and found the equalizer (9-9) with an ace from Klapwijk. The balance holds until 13-13 when Klapwijk and Abrahan make the first overtaking (15-13). Reggio Emilia, however, didn’t give up and dragged by Guerrini into batting they pushed up to 19-16 and then 21-18 in their favour. Atlantis doesn’t give up and shortens to 20-21 but Preti scores the decisive point with the ace of 23-20 before the final 25-22 of the terrible boy Guerrini.
Consoli accepts the challenge and courageously returns to the field, chasing away the ghosts of Game 2. Cominetti made his presence felt in attack and serve up to 12-7. Brescia, regular in the substitution, maintained the 5-point margin until 19-14. The ending is everything for Brescia. Cominetti hits hard for the 23-18 and Tiberti scores the 25-21 with a first class touch.
The statements
Roberto Zambonardi. “Today the team found itself and demonstrated its value. Reggio played a good match, but we earned a deserved pass to the quarterfinals. With Siena in the quarterfinals it will be a battle: we are at their level and we want to gain access to the Cup Final Four in Cuneo”.
Roberto Cominetti: “The Reggio match was just a negative episode. Today we played a personality match against a team that had nothing to lose. On Wednesday at San Filippo we will meet Siena again and we can’t wait to play it head-on.”
Consuls Sferc Centrale – Conad 3-1 (25-15; 25-18; 22-25; 25-21)
Brescia: Erati 9, Braghini L ne, Sarzi Sartori, Tiberti 3, Bettinzoli ne, Ferri 3, Cominetti 14, Franzoni, Ghirardi ne, Candeli 11, Klapwijk 21, Mijatovic, Abrahan 15, Pesaresi (L). All. Zambonardi and Iervolino.
Reggio Emilia: Caciagli 6, Mariano, Preti 17, Sesto 3, Sperotto 1, Catellani 1, Gasparini 12, Bonola ne, Torchia (L), Moltini (L), Volpe, Guerrini 16, Suraci ne All. Fanuli and Zagni.
Referees: Michele Marotta and Giovanni Ciaccio.
Note. Walls: Brescia 10 Reggio Emilia 3. Wrong aces/serves: Brescia 6/16; Reggio Emilia 7/11. Attack: Brescia 63%, Reggio Emilia 47%. Reception: Brescia 51% (30%), Reggio Emilia 41% (19%). Duration: 20′ 24′ 27′ 26′. Total: 1h 37. Spectators: 750.
