The pursuit of salvation comes to life Swimming Catania. The Etna team will play on Wednesday 1 May at 8.30pm Game 1 of the play-out semi-finals for staying in the top national men’s water polo series.
The team coached by Giuseppe Dato receives Roma Vis Nova at Scuderi live on the Facebook page SportWebSicily and on the Nuoto Catania page.
The two teams reach the play outs after having achieved fourth and fifth place in the Relegation Round with 22 and 17 points respectively. Positions equivalent to the 11th and 12th overall position considering that – due to the needs of the Settebello involved in the European and World Championships at the beginning of the year – the formula of this championship has been changed compared to that of last season.
For this reason the Etna players will have the significant advantage of playing the eventual match, scheduled for May 11th, within friendly walls. Whoever wins the series will be saved.
The rossozzurri have won the last three matches, narrowly beating Camogli in the last home match of the group stage and having the better of Genova Quinto and Posillipo away, putting the Neapolitans in the play-offs for survival.
Even the Romans – as mentioned – achieved a trio of victories: first in the city derby with Astra Roma, then with Rari Nantes Salerno and then more broadly with Rari Nantes Camogli.
The previous two ended with a victory for each side. Roma Vis Nova beat the Etna 15-9 on the 13th day of the first phase which was played on 12 December. Then, when the dancing resumed on February 24th, on the opening day of the second phase – in the Relegation Round – the Sicilians won 12-8.
Given, “They will be hard-fought matches”
These are the words of coach Giuseppe Dato on the eve of the match that puts a big slice of the season at stake. “Tomorrow – points out – the first of the play out against Vis Nova, a team that has demonstrated with their last three consecutive victories that they are healthy. We therefore know that they will be hard-fought matches and that we will have to be ready to face them in the right way. The play outs eliminate previous matches and are very emotionally engaging games, where mental energies must be directed well”.
Torrisi, “We know these matches, we will be ready”
The red and blue captain Giorgio Torrisi observes: “This year too, like last year, we will find ourselves facing the play outs. However, it was a largely positive season, superior in terms of results to last year (in the 2022-2023 championship Nuoto Catania won the play out against Anzio after finishing second to last at the end of the regular season, ed.). We played excellent performances so the regret of not having obtained direct salvation remains. But now the moment that counts has arrived, where it doesn’t matter what you did during the season but only what you have to do to achieve the set goal. We know these matches well and we know how they should be approached, we will be ready! Forza Swimming Catania!”
Semi-final play outs
Wednesday 1 May
- Posillipo-Rari Nantes Salerno at 7.30pm
- Swimming Catania-Rome Vis Nova at 8.30pm
Race 2, Wednesday 8 April
- Rare Nantes Salerno-Posillipo at 8pm
- Rome Vis Nova-Swimming Catania at 8.30pm
Possible Race 3, Saturday 11 April
- Posillipo-Rari Nantes Salerno at 7.30pm
- Swimming Catania-Rome Vis Nova at 8.30pm.
