TRENTINO-PIACENZA
A bit of a fairy tale for Jack Sintini who will be a starter in its fourth final coming back last summer after beating cancer. On the other team, coach Monti will try to win its first ever title. Useless to say it’s a sold out affair.
Giacomo Sintini (Itas Diatec TRENTINO): “I am sincerely sorry for Raphael’s injury. My first thought goes to him. He really did not deserve such end to the season but I know him, he’s strong, he has character, he will be ready in his mind even before he will be physically. To be on court thanks to an injury is certainly not nice but I cannot think about that now. It’s my job to substitute him and I’ll do my best to help get this league title. It’s true I have not played much until now (the only game as starter goes as far back as December 12 in Belgrade in the Champions League) but I know my teammates well, I train with them every day, I am therefore not too worried and I want to reassure everyone. We have to play as a team, help each other through the tough times that there will surely be in such an important game. The final series has been superb so far, this put face to face two exceptional teams, who give their absolute everything on court. Game 5 will be a fantastic encounter, I can’t wait to play. When I think about a year ago when I had yet to get medical permission to play professional volleyball after my illness…”.
Luciano De Cecco (Copra Elior PIACENZA): “We’re facing a very tough game on Sunday but we’ll try our best, as we always do. We’ll try to play differently compared to the other games played in the PalaTrento. On the other side of the net, there will be Sintini instead of Raphael but we should not think it will be easier, on the contrary, it will be even more difficult because he has played very little during the season and he’s therefore difficult to study. Our attitude will be crucial. We’ll have to focus on ourselves first before our opponents”.
Playoffs final – GAME 5
Sunday May 12 at 5pm
Itas Diatec TRENTINO – Copra Elior PIACENZA
Paste encounter: 39 (24-15 TRENTINO)
Regular season: 2 (TRENTINO won both: 3-1 home, 3-2 away)
Playoffs: 17 meetings. 5 times in the quarters (3-2 PIACENZA), 12 times in the finals (6 each)
To read more news from this competition click on Italy.
