Italy: Brescia strike back to claim the Supercoppa A2 as Lucconi leads a commanding victory over Pineto

Consoli Sferc Brescia could hardly have asked for a more emphatic start to the new season.
In front of 2,168 spectators at the PalaMaggetti in Roseto degli Abruzzi, Roberto Zambonardi’s side defeated reigning holders ABBA Pineto 3–0, taking the Del Monte Supercoppa A2 with set scores of 25:23, 25:21 and 25:17.

The result carried significance beyond the first trophy of the 2026–27 campaign.
Brescia had lost the previous edition’s final to Pineto, and the rematch offered an immediate opportunity to reverse that outcome. The response was convincing: despite facing the home side in a venue filled with supporters, Brescia maintained its composure during the most competitive passages and progressively tightened its grip on the contest.
For a squad that has undergone substantial changes since last season, the performance also offered an encouraging early indication of its collective potential. Brescia combined individual quality with a particularly effective blocking game, while its ability to manage the decisive points of the opening set established the foundation for the victory.
Manuele Lucconi was the central figure. The Brescia opposite scored 18 points and was named Del Monte MVP, receiving the award from Massimo Righi, president of the board of Lega Pallavolo Serie A. The milestone was an additional reason to celebrate: Lucconi passed 500 points scored in a Brescia shirt across all competitions.
Yet this was not a victory built around one player alone.
Julius Firkal, making his Italian debut, contributed 11 points, while Gabriele Sanfilippo and Nicolò Ciccolella each recorded seven. Both middle blockers also produced three winning blocks apiece, helping Brescia establish the defensive superiority that ultimately separated the teams.

Pineto, coached by Douglas Silva, found its most productive attackers in Martin Licek, who scored 12 points, and Bram Van Den Dries, who added 11. Their contributions kept the hosts competitive during the opening stages, but Brescia’s greater effectiveness at the net made the difference as the match progressed.

The opening set was the most closely contested of the evening. Brescia initially established a narrow advantage through Ciccolella and its blocking game, with Lucconi helping the visitors move ahead 13–11. Pineto responded through the middle, with Copelli contributing to the recovery, before Firkal restored Brescia’s lead.
The home side refused to let the set slip away without a fight. An ace from Licek brought Pineto level at 20–20, and a block by Di Silvestre gave the hosts the advantage. At that point, the contest was finely balanced, and the outcome depended on which side could handle the pressure more effectively.
Brescia answered with precisely the kind of composure that would define the remainder of the match. Firkal produced a crucial block to stop Pineto’s first attempt to close out the set, before Nicola Salsi made another decisive intervention at the net. The turnaround secured a 25–23 opening win and shifted the psychological balance in Brescia’s favour.
The second set began with a more assertive display from the visitors. Brescia quickly established a four-point advantage, with Lucconi contributing both in attack and from the service line. His ace helped extend the lead to 9–5, while his growing influence underlined why he would eventually receive the tournament’s individual award.
Pineto attempted to respond through substitutions, with Loglisci and Compagnoni introduced by Silva, while Licek continued to provide an attacking outlet. However, Brescia maintained its defensive pressure and prevented the hosts from building a sustained comeback.
Sanfilippo and Ciccolella were particularly effective at the net, reinforcing the advantage created by Lucconi’s scoring. Iribarne then finished the set with a successful attack, sealing a 25–21 win and leaving Brescia just one set away from the trophy.
The third set confirmed the direction of the match. Firkal’s attack from the pipe helped Brescia establish an early advantage, while Lucconi continued to apply pressure with his attacking efficiency and serving. A block by Iribarne extended the lead, and Brescia gradually created the separation that had eluded both teams during the opening set.
With the visitors increasingly comfortable, Pineto struggled to find a consistent response. Brescia’s organisation at the net limited the hosts’ options, while its attacking play became more difficult to contain. Lucconi remained a central figure, but the contribution of the entire front line ensured that Pineto could not concentrate exclusively on stopping the opposite.
The gap continued to grow as Brescia moved towards the finish. At 17–11, the visitors had established a substantial advantage, and the remaining points brought them closer to a title that had looked far less certain during the first set.
The final touch came from Iribarne, whose soft attack settled the contest at 25–17. Brescia had completed a straight-sets victory, turning a competitive opening into a controlled finish and securing its second Del Monte Supercoppa A2.

The statistics help explain the scale of the achievement.
Brescia recorded 11 winning blocks against Pineto’s four, a substantial difference in a match where several of the most important points were decided close to the net. That advantage reflected not only the individual performances of Sanfilippo and Ciccolella, but also the collective organisation of a team able to maintain its defensive discipline throughout the encounter.
For Zambonardi, the trophy also represented a personal milestone.
It was his second Supercoppa A2 victory, bringing him level with Gianluca Graziosi for the most coaching wins in the competition, with two apiece. The achievement adds another chapter to Brescia’s history in the tournament and gives the club an immediate reward for its work during the pre-season.

Lucconi’s reaction after the final whistle reflected the importance of the collective effort. Praising his teammates, the MVP described the team’s performance during the match as “perfect” and acknowledged the emotion of winning the trophy. He also dedicated his individual award to his father, his girlfriend and his family.

The celebrations, however, will soon give way to the demands of the league campaign. Brescia are scheduled to begin their Serie A2 Credem Banca season at home against Rinascita Lagonegro on Sunday, 18 October, at 16:00. Pineto will also open its league campaign that day, hosting Domotek Reggio Calabria.
For Brescia, the immediate objective is to carry the confidence generated by this victory into the championship. A new squad still has to establish its rhythm over a full season, and one final cannot answer every question about its prospects. Nevertheless, the ability to overcome a familiar opponent in a high-pressure match provides a valuable starting point.
For Pineto, the defeat brings disappointment, particularly after last season’s Supercoppa triumph over Brescia. The hosts showed resilience in the opening set and had periods of effective attacking play, but they were unable to match the visitors’ consistency at the net as the contest developed.

Brescia leave Roseto degli Abruzzi with the first major prize of the new campaign, a valuable measure of progress and a reminder that successful teams are built on more than individual scoring power. Lucconi supplied the points, but the blocking, defensive organisation and decisive interventions of his teammates turned those contributions into a championship performance.
The season is only beginning, but the Tucani have already delivered a clear message: they intend to compete for honours again.

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