PIACENZA deliver show of strength in Berlin

Italy’s Gas Sales Bluenergy PIACENZA needed just over an hour to conquer the Max-Schmeling-Halle where they crushed local heroes BERLIN Recycling Volleys 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-18) in the first leg of the CEV Volleyball Cup quarter-finals. With this result, the ‘Biancorossi’ find themselves in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals of the competition. In the return leg, scheduled for March 11 in Italy, PIACENZA will ‘only’ need to win two sets to secure their progression to the next stage. 

It was a rather one-sided match in Berlin, with the hosts, who had moved down from the CEV Champions League after failing to reach the knockout phase, leading by a couple of points at the start of the first and second sets. Other than this, the home side had to chase their rivals or watch the Biancorossi as they regularly broke away. Gas Sales Bluenergy PIACENZA looked much focused and took to the court with the right attitude, thrilling the crowd with some excellent play that earned them loud applause from the fair German fans. Paolo Porro was named MVP after delivering a great performance, while Ramazan Efe Mandiraci scored 13 points. Alessandro Bovolenta and José Miguel Gutierrez registered 10 and eight, respectively. 

Dante Boninfante, head coach of Gas Sales Bluenergy PIACENZA: “Congratulations to my players for making a match that was not really easy look so easy. They did well to follow all the instructions we gave them, especially when it comes to our service game. Some of them even changed their style to follow our instructions even more closely and be more effective in this match. I must say that I saw great attitude and concentration. We have taken another small step forward in our growth. I take much satisfaction from working with this group. Now the most difficult thing is to switch our attention from the CEV Cup to the national league playoffs, but I am quite calm because these lads know how to do that.”