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Valsa Group Modena recover from a slow start to defeat Rana Verona 3–1 in the final at Montichiari, with Pardo Mati named tournament MVP.
Earlier, Pallavolo Padova overcame Vero Volley Monza in a dramatic five-set battle to secure third place at the fifth edition of the Ferramenta Astori Trophy.
The fifth Ferramenta Astori Trophy came to a close at the PalaGeorge in Montichiari on Sunday with two contrasting matches that offered a final glimpse of four SuperLega teams preparing for the new season.
Valsa Group Modena claimed the title after overcoming Rana Verona in four sets, while Pallavolo Padova took third place by defeating Vero Volley Monza in a contest that went the distance.
The tournament, staged on 10 and 11 October, brought together four established names in Italian men’s volleyball.
With the league season approaching, the competition provided an opportunity to test combinations and assess match readiness under pressure. Sunday’s results also highlighted two different routes to victory: Modena relied on its blocking and composure in the decisive moments, whereas Padova ultimately prevailed through a strong serving run in the tie-break.
For Modena, the final against Verona was a particularly valuable test.
The team coached by Roberto Ciamarra had to recover after losing the opening set, then withstand a further comeback attempt before closing out the match 25:23, 25:22, 25:21, 25:23.
Pardo Mati emerged as the standout performer. The middle blocker finished with 13 points, including five winning blocks, and was named MVP of the tournament. His contribution illustrated the importance of Modena’s work at the net, particularly in the second and third sets, when the team began to establish greater control over Verona’s attacking options.
The opening set had initially suggested a different outcome.
Modena started well, establishing an early advantage through effective defence and counterattacking, while an ace from Mati helped maintain the pressure. However, Verona remained within reach, and its serving game became increasingly influential as the set progressed.
The loss of Luca Porro, who suffered a left ankle injury during a reception at 13–11, was another setback for Modena. The outside hitter had to leave the court, and the team was forced to adjust its rotation. Despite the disruption, Modena continued to compete, but Verona found the decisive points at the end of the set and took it 25–23.
The response from Ciamarra’s team was immediate.
The second set developed into a close contest, with both sides trading points and neither able to establish a decisive lead in the early stages. Modena gradually found more effective solutions through its blocking, with Mati contributing alongside the other players at the net. An important block by Gabriele Di Martino helped create separation at 22–20, before a further winning block by setter Amir Tizi-Oualou gave Modena the opportunity to close the set. Mati completed the job with a first-tempo attack for 25–22.
That late sequence proved important in changing the match’s momentum. Modena had not only levelled the score but also demonstrated a greater ability to convert pressure into points when the set reached its decisive phase.
The third set followed a similar pattern, with the teams remaining close before Modena began to gain ground. Two consecutive blocks by Mati helped establish a 10–7 advantage, and the team maintained its lead through a combination of attacking efficiency and defensive organisation. Sil Meijs contributed an important point in attack, while Mati’s fifth winning block of the match reinforced Modena’s advantage. Verona’s service error then handed the set to Modena at 25–21.
Verona, coached by Fabio Soli, refused to surrender the final without another fight. Two early aces from Bento gave Modena a 3–0 lead in the fourth set, and Meijs helped extend the advantage to 10–6. Yet Verona responded once again, recovering to level the score at 13–13 before moving ahead 18–17.
The closing stages demanded composure from both teams. Modena found its way back through Meijs and the contribution of Denina, who entered to serve and immediately produced an ace to make it 18–18. The teams remained level at 21–21, but Denina then helped Modena move ahead, before an ace from Nik Mujanovic created a two-point cushion at 23–21. Verona’s service error brought the match to an end at 25–23, securing the trophy for Modena.
The final scoreline reflected the balance of the contest, but Mati’s five winning blocks offered a clear explanation of one of the decisive differences. Modena repeatedly found ways to disrupt Verona’s attack, particularly when the sets reached their most important points. Mujanovic also made a substantial contribution, finishing with 17 points, while Meijs added 12 and Bento scored nine. For Verona, Francesco Sani led the way with 18 points, followed by Mol with eight and Glatz with seven.
The title also gives Modena a positive conclusion to its preparations before the start of the SuperLega season. The club is scheduled to open its league campaign against Itas Trentino at the PalaPanini on 18 October.
Verona, meanwhile, will take further lessons from a final in which it demonstrated its ability to compete but was unable to sustain its advantage at the decisive moments.
Earlier in the afternoon, the battle for third place produced an even longer contest. Pallavolo Padova defeated Vero Volley Monza 3–2, with set scores of 25:21, 18:25, 25:18, 23:25 and 15:9.
The match was characterised by repeated changes in momentum. Padova took the first set, Monza responded in the second, and the pattern continued as the two teams exchanged the next two sets. Neither side managed to build a lasting advantage until the tie-break, when Padova finally established the separation it needed to secure the bronze medal.
Padova’s opening set was built on improved control in the second half. After an initially balanced start, the team began to create opportunities through its attacking play and pressure at the net. Alessandro Bristot contributed a winning block, while Leo Lukas added an ace that helped Padova move ahead. An attack by Brendan Mills on the opposing block completed the set at 25–21.
Monza’s response was convincing. The team established an early lead in the second set, forcing Padova coach Jacopo Cuttini to call a timeout at 7–3. The gap continued to grow, and Monza maintained control until the end, levelling the match with an 18–25 victory.
Padova regained the initiative in the third set, using its service game to put Monza under pressure. Bristot and Lukas both produced aces, helping the team create an advantage that became increasingly difficult for the opposition to overcome. Josha Kunstmann eventually finished the set with an attack through the middle, securing another 25–18 win and putting Padova ahead 2–1.
Monza, however, forced a deciding set. After an evenly contested opening, the Brianza side moved ahead and established a five-point advantage at 15–10. Padova attempted to respond, with Amir Golzadeh entering the rotation and contributing to a late push that reduced the deficit. The comeback brought the score to 23–22, but Monza held its nerve and closed the set 25–23.
The tie-break initially remained balanced, with the teams level at 5–5. The turning point came when Padova found its rhythm from the service line. Kunstmann’s ace helped establish an 8–5 lead, and his subsequent serving run continued to trouble Monza’s reception. Padova stretched the advantage to 12–6, creating a margin that the opposition could no longer recover.
Golzadeh then scored the final two points, sealing the 15–9 win and third place for Padova. The result rewarded a team that had repeatedly recovered from setbacks and found a decisive edge when the match reached its final stage. Nicoló Mapelli received the MVP award for the third-place match.
For Monza, the defeat followed a competitive performance in which the team had twice responded to falling behind in sets. Its ability to force the tie-break demonstrated resilience, although Padova’s serving pressure ultimately proved decisive.
Taken together, the two finals provided a useful assessment of the four teams ahead of the new SuperLega campaign. Modena leave Montichiari with the trophy and an encouraging demonstration of their blocking strength, while Padova can take confidence from a hard-fought victory after five sets.
Verona and Monza, despite missing out on the podium’s highest available positions, had moments of quality that should prove useful as their preparations continue.
The most significant lesson from the weekend was the value of execution under pressure. Modena found its answers after losing the first set, and Padova delivered its strongest serving sequence when the third-place match was on the line.
In both cases, the decisive moments mattered more than the early momentum.
For Modena, the fifth Trofeo Ferramenta Astori ends with silverware and an individual award for Mati. For Padova, the bronze medal comes after a contest that tested its ability to recover and finish strongly. Both teams leave Montichiari with a positive result to carry into the new season.
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🏆| TROFEO ASTORI 2026 | Saturday October 10, 2026
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Valsa Group Modena – Pallavolo Padova 3-0 (25:22, 32:30, 25:19)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Rana Verona – Vero Volley Monza 3-1 (19:25, 25:22, 25:22, 25:19)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
👉🏼Sunday October 11, 2026
• 15.30 (Local Time) | Vero Volley Monza – Pallavolo Padova 2-3 (21:25, 25:18, 18:25, 25:23, 9:15)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 18.30 (Local Time) | Valsa Group Modena – Rana Verona 3-1 (23:25, 25:22, 25:21, 25:23)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
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