It could not have been a transition match between two phases of the decisive part of the season: even if the timing of the objectives to be pursued between the sextets who met on Saturday evening at PalaCalafiore was different, the concentration of quality that Domotek Volley Reggio Calabria and EnergyTime Spike can simultaneously agitate Devils Campobasso is such that it would have been unrealistic to imagine being left empty-handed and empty-eyed after witnessing a match whose players are to be counted among the absolute protagonists of the Serie B season. The Molise players for rapid entry into the Serie A3, the Reggio Calabria team, after having thrashed anyone who came under their hands in the championship, to place themselves in the best possible conditions when, in a week’s time, the final phase of 2023/2024 will start. A mini grouping which, in fourteen days and three challenges, will give a name and face to the second promoted.
The first, which emerged from the triangular table which also included the Grottaglie Volley Club, is that of Mr. Maniscalco’s “Devils” who seized the chance offered to them by mathematics and, encouraged by a large following of fans who arrived on the banks of the Strait to accompany the their favorites in the final contest, they took possession of the points they needed to move up in category. On the path of the team of coach Polimeni, who still remain on the journey with their minds occupied by the desire for promotion, the remaining obstacles are called Grottaglie, as it has already been in the first level and as it has already been, four months ago, in the round that the padlock of the Final Four of the Italian Cup was broken, and Pag Volley Taviano emerged with arms raised from the trio of clashes between the second teams of groups G, H and I. Campobasso, therefore, dominated its opponents in what included the top three. There had already been two direct matches with the Reggio Calabria team: in the first, at the PalaCalafiore, decisive to enter the magnificent four of the Italian Cup which was then won by the “Zanettin gang”, it was Domotek Volley who emerged from the fight in the tie-break; in the second round, semi-final of the tricolor trophy in Molise, the hosts, organizers of the event, stood out.
The third part of the saga was the prerogative of the EnergyTime Spike Devils who, with the 1-3 success (23-25, 26-28, 25-17, 25-27) on the parquet of Reggio Calabria, celebrated the breakthrough in A3. As highlighted by the figures of the four partials, a match in constant balance from start to finish. In the first set the Amaranths showed character and presence of mind by not resigning themselves to the six-point lead accumulated by their rivals. The contribution provided by Boscaini was fundamental who, with class and experience, placed the shot to make it 17-17 and then raised a grim wall, once again slowing down yet another escape attempt by the “Devils” and impacting the game at 20 all. The point-to-point continued until the end of the set which awarded coach Maniscalco’s sextet 23-25. In the middle of the second half, the balance seemed to be leaning heavily towards Campobasso but, as in the previous period, the Calabrian team, action after action and weaving the web with patience and tenacity, closed the gap to 18-18 thanks to an ace from Laganà.
Pacelli, author of the last two points, contributed in a decisive and effective manner to the final 26-28, also making use of a serve on which nothing was possible for the home team’s defense. In the third game, however, Domotek Volley was always ahead, with an advantage that guaranteed safety and stemmed any outburst from Molise. Two consecutive blocks by Stefano Remo, which put the result of 23-16 on the scoreboard, were the fuel needed to accelerate towards the desired destination (25-17). The fourth, and final, portion of the duel traveled on the usual tracks: Campobasso trying to fly towards the finish line and the blend of grit and quality prepared by coach Polimeni’s sextet keeping the leash tight. Illuzzi’s well-tested talent gave the decisive points, for 16 all before and 23-23 after and until the end, marked by 25-27, the Molise team had to sweat in every single action, in every single point. For the “Devils” the promotion objective is achieved, now it’s up to Domotek Volley whose fate will depend on the two matches that await it: the first at home against Pag Volley Taviano, the second away in Grottaglie.
