Cucine Lube Civitanova clinch their eighth Coppa Italia title in an electrifying five-set showdown against Rana Verona. This marks their 12th appearance in the final, further solidifying their reputation as a powerhouse team.
A Battle of Grit and Skill
Lube came out firing, with Mattia Bottolo and Eric Loeppky leading the charge as they confidently took the first two sets. However, Rana Verona wasn’t going down without a fight. Riding on the exceptional performance of Noumory Keita, who racked up a game-high 30 points (53% attack, 2 aces), Verona staged a stunning comeback to force a decisive fifth set.
Despite Verona’s resilience, Lube maintained their composure in the final set. Two early errors from Verona gave Civitanova the momentum they needed to seal the victory. The depth of Lube’s squad played a crucial role, with standout performances from Eric Loeppky (17 points, 50% attack) and Alex Nikolov (16 points, 62% attack). Coach Gianlorenzo Medei strategically utilized his deep bench, ensuring that 11 players contributed to the win. Marko Podraščanin also played a key role, bringing stability in the final moments.
Verona’s Heroics Fall Just Short
Noumory Keita was nearly unstoppable, but Verona struggled with the underwhelming performance of Rok Možič, who finished with just 13 points and a 34% attack rate—far below his usual standards. Coach Radostin Stoytchev made tactical adjustments in the third set, shifting Keita to the opposite position and introducing Francesco Sani, which initially sparked Verona’s comeback. However, Lube’s consistency and depth ultimately proved to be the difference.
Match Result – Del Monte Coppa Italia SuperLega Final (26/01/2025)
Cucine Lube Civitanova – Rana Verona 3-2 (26-24, 25-15, 23-25, 21-25, 15-10)
Top Scorers:
- Noumory Keita (Rana Verona) – 30 points
- Mattia Bottolo (Cucine Lube Civitanova) – 19 points
- Eric Loeppky (Cucine Lube Civitanova) – 17 points
- Alex Nikolov (Cucine Lube Civitanova) – 16 points
Coppa Italia Final Four Recap
The Coppa Italia delivered edge-of-the-seat action, with all three matches going the distance. The biggest shock came in the semifinals, where Sir Susa Vim Perugia suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of Verona.
- Semifinal: Sir Susa Vim Perugia – Rana Verona 2-3 (25-22, 28-26, 14-25, 19-25, 12-15)
- Semifinal: Itas Trentino – Cucine Lube Civitanova 2-3 (26-24, 24-26, 14-25, 25-22, 13-15)
- Final: Cucine Lube Civitanova – Rana Verona 3-2 (26-24, 25-15, 23-25, 21-25, 15-10)
- BRA W: Minas Outlasts Osasco in Five Sets
- ITA M: Milano Beats Cuneo 3–1 to Close SuperLega’s Ninth Round
- POL M: ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle Rallies Past Ślepsk Suwałki in Five Sets
- CEV CL W: Fenerbahce Beats Novara 3-0 to Extend Champions League Winning Start
- Transfer Rumors: Fenerbahçe Targeting Transfer of Efe Mandıracı?