Italy: Trento and Civitanova defeat Piacenza and Milano in Game 5 and fly to FINAL

Game 5 of Semifinal series has been closed with an exciting four sets victory (27:25, 25:22, 23:25, 27:25) of No.4 in regular season and defending champions Cucine Lube Civitanova against No.8 Allianz Milano, in an Eurosuole Forum sold out.
For the winners this is the sixth final in a row, and a consequent ticket for next edition of CEV Champions League.
In Grand Finale they will face Itas Trentino, starting from May 1 but the season is not over for Milano who, after a historic semifinal, will have the chance to take a ticket for the top European competition in final for third place against Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, that will start on April 29.

Today the players around coach Blengini were better in the decisive moments of the game, led by their home fans as well as top scorer and MVP Aleksandar Nikolov, author of 21 points with 2 aces (including the one that closed the game) and 1 block, but also by a good Ivan Zaytsev, who also contributed with 17 and 52% in attack, and Marlon Yant (15 points including 2 aces and 2 blocks).
Mention also for Chinenyeze who, against his former team, put down 12 points.
On the other side of the net Yuki Ishikawa was the most effective player with 20 points to his name through 53% in attack, followed by Agustin Loser and Osniel Mergarejo with 15 points each. Double digit also for Patry, 10 points, in a very balanced match looking at the numbers: 5 aces for Civitanova and 4 for Milano, and the winners were slightly better in attack (51% to 49%), while Milano in blocking (7 to 6).

It was a great volleyball battle, but both sides had lot of ups and downs: Milano take the lead 7-8 in first sets, then the reply of the rivals 19-16, and again 23-23 with a point of Ishikawa, but the block of Nikolov, his sixth point, close the set at third set ball, 27-25.
Also in second set are the titleholders to dictate the rule of the game, putting down the ball of 19-15. The 7 points by Ishikawa, who close the set with 55% in attack and 1 ace, keep Milano alive (21-20) who, however, collapse at second set ball with the point of Chinenyeze, 25-22.
In third set the reaction of Milano, who keep the lead from start to finish, although the hosts tried to stay alive with 3 winning blocks, but made 8 errors, including the one of Zaytsev from the service line, 23-25.
Fourth set, and Civitanova start in an almost perfect way with a lead of 10-5. But it’s not over, as Milano react again putting down the ball of 21-21, canceling two match balls to eventually collapse in front of a great Nikolov, who closed with an attack and an ace, 27-25.

About Itas Trentino, they’ll back to the final after six years, and more precisely it was on the season 2016/17. And this will be the ninth final in 23 years of club’s history.
In decisive Game 5, they defeated Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza in four sets (18:25, 25:20, 25:17, 25:19) after a first sets dominated by the rivals, who literally shut up the home fans at BLM Group Arena.
Since then, Angelo Lorenzetti’s guys react, taking the lead in next two sets and unfreezing a fourth set thanks to Alessandro Michieletto who, from the service line, brings the score from 17-16 to 22-16.
But this victory means not only the final for title, but also a revenge against the same team who defeated them in Italian Cup Final!
To make the difference are Kaziyski in attack, 11 points through 45%, Lavia (10 with 43%), Podrascanin (11 with 64% and 4 winning blocks) and MVP Michieletto, top scorer with 14 points including 2 blocks and 3 aces.
And, about Piacenza, too many errors, decisive for the final
result: 24 from the service line, and 10 in attack. In fact, errors apart, looking at the numbers the game was very balanced (47% in attack for Trento, 45% for Piacenza, 43% to 42% in reception, and 9 to 8 winning blocks).
Interestingly, in final, Trento will face Cucine Lube Civitanova, just like 6 years ago, but this time with field advantage….

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🇮🇹| 2022/23 Superlega CredemBanca | Playoffs Semifinals

—GAME 1—

| Thursday | April 13, 2023
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Cucine Lube Civitanova (4) – Allianz Milano (8) 3-0 (25:17, 25:22, 25:17)
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Itas Trentino (2) – Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza (6) 3-0 (25:23, 25:22, 25:18)

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—GAME 2—

| Sunday | April 16, 2023
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Allianz Milano – Cucine Lube Civitanova 3-2 (25:18, 20:25, 25:21, 21:25, 15:9) Serie: 1-1
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza – Itas Trentino 1-3 (19:25, 22:25, 25:20, 20:25) Serie: 0-2
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—GAME 3—

| Wednesday | April 19, 2023
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Cucine Lube Civitanova – Allianz Milano 0-3 (23:25, 18:25, 24:26) Serie: 1-2
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Itas Trentino – Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza 0-3 (23:25, 22:25, 20:25) Serie: 2-1

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—GAME 4—

| Saturday | April 22, 2023
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Allianz Milano – Cucine Lube Civitanova 2-3 (25:23, 25:18, 19:25, 22:25, 7:15) Serie: 2-2
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza – Itas Trentino 3-0 (25:21, 25:23, 25:23) Serie: 2-2

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—GAME 5—

👉🏼 Tuesday | April 25, 2023

• 18.00 (Local Time) | Cucine Lube Civitanova – Allianz Milano 3-1 (27:25, 25:22, 23:25, 27:25) Serie: 3-2
Cucine Lube Civitanova: De Cecco 1, Yant Herrera 15, Anzani 6, Zaytsev 17, Nikolov 21, Chinenyeze 12, Garcia Fernandez 0, Balaso (L), D’Amico (L), Bottolo 0. N.E. Ambrose, Diamantini, Gottardo, Sottile. Coach. Blengini.
Allianz Milano: Porro 3, Ishikawa 20, Loser 15, Patry 10, Mergarejo Hernandez 15, Piano 5, Vitelli 0, Pesaresi (L), Fusaro 0, Bonacchi 0, Lawrence 0. N.E. Colombo, Ebadipour. Coach. Piazza.

• 18.00 (Local Time) | Itas Trentino – Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza 3-1 (18:25, 25:20, 25:17, 25:19) Serie: 3-2
Itas Trentino: Sbertoli 2, Lavia 10, Lisinac 9, Kaziyski 11, Michieletto 14, Podrascanin 11, Nelli 0, Dzavoronok 0, Laurenzano (L), D’Heer 0. N.E. Pace, Berger, Cavuto, Depalma. Coach. Lorenzetti.
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza: Brizard 3, Santos De Souza 12, Simon 9, Romanò 17, Leal 10, Caneschi 8, Scanferla (L), Recine 0, Gironi 0. N.E. Hoffer, Basic, Alonso, De Weijer, Cester. Coach. Botti.

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Formula: best-of-five

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