Two weeks after the last official release, Delta Group Porto Viro is ready to return to the field for the quarter-finals of the Del Monte Italian Cup in Serie A2: Nerofuchsia’s opponent is an “old acquaintance”, Puliservice Acqua San Bernardo Cuneo, already crossed (and eliminated) in the playoffs no later than a month ago. The first leg match is scheduled for this evening at 7pm at the Porto Viro sports hall, the return match on Sunday 5 May (also at 7pm) in Piedmont.
The possible “beautiful set” is not foreseen but the “golden set” rule will apply: if the two teams finish the home and away matches with the same points (three points are awarded for a 3-0 or 3-1 victory, two points for a tie-break victory and one point for a tie-break defeat ), the passage of the round would be decided by a play-off set – precisely, the “golden set” – at 15 points. The winner of this quarter-final will challenge Siena and Brescia in the semi-final, the first act of the final four which will be held on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May at the Cuneo sports hall.
Since the time of Serie B, when it hosted two final fours in a row without managing to win the trophy, the Italian Cup has been a blessing and a curse for Porto Viro. In the first year of Serie A3, in 2019/2020, the Polesine team immediately achieved qualification for the then A2/A3 Italian Cup, but were ousted in the quarterfinals by Siena, leaders of the higher category. The following year, however, he was the protagonist of a sensational ride: he eliminated two cadet teams from the scoreboard (Taranto in the quarterfinals and Reggio Emilia in the semifinals) before capitulating to Bergamo in the final.
Even since it has been in Serie A2, Delta Group has always managed to qualify for the Italian Cup: in 2021/2022 he achieved the feat in Castellana Grotte in the quarterfinals but bowed to Cuneo in the semifinals, while last year he went out in the first round in an unfortunate re-match with Castellana.
In its glorious past Cuneo has sewn the tricolor cockade onto her chest five times (the last in 2010/2011)but never after the birth of the new club in 2015. The blue and whites came very close two years ago when they lost the final at home against Reggio Emilia, whose ranks included Garnica, Zamagni and Morgese, today in Porto Viro .
In the round of 16, the team coached by former black and fuchsia player Matteo Battocchio eliminated Pineto with a double 3-0. After being surprised in the playoffs, the Piedmontese team will now try to take revenge on the Delta Group: the declared objective is to enter the final four and win the cup in front of their home fans.
There have already been five seasonal matches between Porto Viro and Cuneothe Piedmontese are ahead by three victories to two, while the updated history of the previous ones in Serie A is six successes for each side.
The first leg match will be refereed by Marco Colucci from Matera and Beatrice Cruccolini from Perugia. Tickets on sale again this evening at the ticket office of the Porto Viro sports hall starting from 4.30pm and at any time online on the Live Ticket platform. Free live streaming on Volleyball World tv.
