Playoffs scudetto, Allianz Milan wins in Civitanova
Schudetto playoffs, Allianz Milano wins in Civitanova
It's a team victory, capped not even to mention by a wall by Tommaso Barotto, thrown into the fray by coach Piazza at the first match point. Thirteen players wearing Allianz Milano jerseys are called upon in a real marathon against Cucine Lube Macerata. It’s a remake of the Del Monte Coppa Italia quarterfinal. Now it è still a quarterfinal, but è Race 1 of the SuperLega Credem Banca Scudetto Play Offs. The final è different, says Allianz Milano after almost two and a half hours of play in front of the over 3 thousand of the’Eurosuole Forum in Civitanova. A match always in balance, won by few details. Allianz Milano rediscovered the wall and the serve, which have not always been strong points of the season. Civitanova, on the other side of the net, after dominating the third partial, gets surprised by Milan. A couple of balls make the difference in the end, Bottolo makes an attack error (the only one of the match) and then gets a wall in the tie-break. End. In Allianz Milan, very good Otsuka, called up in the match in addition to the usual Reggers, but è the choral proof to stand out, in a day where some soloists were perhaps not at the top, but they è put themselves at the disposal of the team anyway.
The match.
No surprises in the Milanese 6+1, Piazza relies on Porro at the direction with Reggers opposite, Kaziyski and Louati on the side, Caneschi and Schnitzer in the center and Catania free. Medei responds with Boninfante and Lagumdzija on the major diagonal, Bottolo and Loeppky setters, Chinenyeze and Podrascanin at center and captain Balaso libero.
Allianz Milano started better than the hosts in a set with two faces. Reggers’ ace in the middle of the court breaks the 3-5 balance, also because’Loeppky sends in the net, then again Reggers (7 points in the partial) from the second line forces Medei to the first time out on 3-7. Immediately recovers on the return the Marche team: 6-7. Porro unloads well Louati, who holds the double advantage, then also well Caneschi from nine meters, who forces Chinenyeze error 7-10. Lagumdzija solves a long exchange and Lube è 10-11. A great pipe by Kaziyski for 14-16. Two actions and Civitanova ties it 16-16. Long exchange closed by the hosts, overtake and time out by Piazza on 18-17. In comes Larizza for Schnitzer, but Lagumdzija (he will score 9 points in the partial with 2 walls) stretches again: 20-17 and second Milano time out. Poriya’s entrance puts pressure on the serve: 22-18, here comes Otsuka, he’ll be among the protagonists, for Kaziyski. Lube però makes no more mistakes: 24-18. But watch out for Allianz. There’è in fact, still time for the Lombardy backlash on Larizza’s serve, with Medei time out on 24-21, followed by the’ex’s ace and Nikolov’s entry for Loeppky. On 24-23 here comes Gargiulo for Podrascanini, then 24-24. It goes to the advantages. On 27-27 Zonta also enters for Caneschi. Closes forò a double attack by Bottolo: 29-27 after 34’ (the final of the fifth will be’ the opposite). The Marche’s 5 walls to 1 are a judgment, Milan’s 2 aces are not enough to reverse the favor of the court factor.
Starters confirmed in the second set for Milan, Lube instead leaves Nikolov for Loeppky, who è in imperfect physical condition. It’ the Allianz wall that comes back to the forefront: Caneschi reads Loeppky’s pipe well for 3-4. Reggers stops Nikolov, then Schnitzer on Chinenyeze for 6-10 with Medei time out. Porro’s serve makes the difference: 6-11. Again the meneghino director takes the lead in clearing his centers: 8-13. Lube double change with Orduna and Dirlic, but Allianz holds its +5 (10-15). Bottolo hits from nine meters, inside Otsuka in second line for KK on 13-16. Gargiulo also enters, but the Japanese man’s pipe goes in 14-18. Service errors on both sides, but Allianz stays in front. Time out Piazza on 18-20. Otsuka again solves 18-21. Strong attack in first half by Gargiulo, confirmed by video check the “out” seen by the two referees: 19-22. Medei time out on 20-23 after Bottolo’s service error. Porro’s ace makes it 20-24 confirmed by the check. Failing the first three setpoints Allianz Milano, Piazza spends the second time out on 23-24. Jordan Schnitzer closes 23-25. Parityà restored and gone is the first full hour of play. Allianz as mentioned started walling off (3-2), put up 1 ace vs. 2 Marches. Important attack for Lube (70%), while Milan makes 57%, as for the singles, Bottolo’s 8 points and Schnitzer’s 4 stand out.
Outsuka remains in Allianz Milano’s 6+1, Gargiulo and Nikolov (putà 6 points in the partial) in Cucine Lube’s. Just the Japanese makes the point of the’1-4. Otsuka (he will putà 6 points in the set) comes out on top thanks to Porro’s fast play: 4-7. Lagumdzija and Nikolov to overtake 9-8 and time out Piazza. Reggers takes care of the side 9-9. Gardini for Louati, but è Boninfante to mark the’11-9. Enter Piano for Caneschi on 13-12. Lube stretches 15-12 thanks to a wall by Gargiulo, point confirmed by video check. Bottolo’s ace makes it 17-13 with Allianz Milano time out. Otsuka from the second line for -2 (18-16) and time out Medei. Lube’s wall ends an exciting exchange with defenses by Catania and Bottolo for 20-16, then Lagumdzija’s ace. Ace also by Nikolov, Lube flies 23-17. Here comes Larizza for Schnitzer on serve, but Bottolo gets setpoint 24-18, then Poriya’s ace 25-18. It’ was the least contested partial. Lube made 4 walls, Milan none, Lombard reception also struggled a lot (35%).
Fourth set with Otsuka and Louati. Reggers hammers again, Nikolov error and 1-3. Reggers again to settle, then Caneschi’s ace 3-6. Keeps +3 Allianz with Otsuka 7-10, then Reggers stretches 7-11 and time out Medei. The Belgian opposite è on fire: 7-12. Lube double change, but Caneschi closes a nice rally for 9-14. Podrascanin’s ace shortens it. Reggers keeps ball on ball. Bottolo also finds a direct point from nine meters: 14-16 with Piazza time out. Floor for Caneschi: 17-17, Allianz è stopped dangerously. Otsuka regains the lead and on Nikolov’s error it goes 17-19. Allianz Milano also takes back the +3 with Louati, inside Loeppky for Nikolov, but Reggers says 18-22. Lube time out, with Allianz wanting the tie-break. Bottolo on wall, then Lube makes it 21-22 and Piazza has to call time out. Reggers again to say 23. Barotto for Porro, then inside Poriya, long exchange closed by Bottolo (8 points in the partial) 23-23. Schnitzer takes 24-23 and Reggers’ wall (11 points in the set with 71% attack) reads tie-break. Values truly in great balance after two hours of play.
Orduna on court with Lagumdzija. Schnitzer puts up the first two points for Allianz Milano, ball on ball is played. Lube finds 4-3 after a prolonged exchange. Gardini for Louati (5-3), great defenses by Balaso, Catania and Porro: 5-4, Caneschi walls Bottolo 5-5. Louati returns and finds an ace thanks to the net, Otsuka walls Lagumdzija we change court on 6-8. Chinenyeze for Gargiulo, time out Medei. Lube equalizes 8-8. Otsuka takes care of it 8-9, then Schnitzer takes advantage of a freeball procured by Caneschi’s serve for 8-10, followed by Bottolo’s tie 10-10 and Civitanova’s lead 10-11. What a game. Otsuka ties it: 12-12. Enter Piano and Boninfante for Orduna 13-12, time out Piazza. Nikolov makes it 14-13, but Reggers cancels first match point. Poriya also enters, but Louati cancels. Rare Bottolo error, Allianz Milano matchpoint: time out Medei, Barotto enters on Porro to put inches at the net: 15-16. Barotto himself makes the winning wall of an incredible match. Race 1 è of Milan.
The words of Paolo Porro at the end of the match
“We had told ourselves that this great team è stronger at home than outside, but to have canceled Lube’s home unbeaten streak now goes by the wayside. We had to play our game, even with our difficulties; against a great opponent. We did it, we batted better, a fundamental that we lacked in the last period instead, and then if you bat better everything becomes easier. Otsuka è came in strong, he gives us a hand as in the Japanese philosophical: jumping, shooting, defending, receiving. He really played as well as every time he is called upon. For game 2 we will be at home and we will need our audience, but now first we enjoy the win and rest a little bit’. I think having taken, if the home court factor is respected, the challenge to Game 4 is already important. But let’s think about one game at a time”.
CUCINE LUBE CIVITANOVA – ALLIANZ MILAN 2-3
(29-27, 23-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-17)
CUCINE LUBE CIVITANOVA: Chinenyeze 2, Gargiulo 5, Loeppky 1, Orduna, Bisotto (L2) ne, Balaso (L), Boninfante 2, Poriya 1, Lagumdzija 22, Nikolov 15, Podrascanin 12, Bottolo 24, Tenorio ne, Dirlic 1. All. Giampaolo Medei. Ass. Romano Giannini
ALLIANZ MILANO: Porro 2, Reggers 26, Caneschi 9, Schnitzer 12, Gardini, Otsuka 16, Catania (L), Kaziyski 5, Louati 8, Barotto 1, Zonta, Piano 1, Larizza 1, Staforini (L2) ne. All. Roberto Piazza. Ass. Nicola Daldello.
ArbitrI: Rocco Brancati and Stefano Cesare (3° Michele Marotta). At video check Marco Perotti, scorekeeper Matteo Cetraro.
Spectators: 3,242 for 24,466.63 euros
Notes:
Set duration 34’, 29’, 26’, 30’ and 24’ for two hours and 23 minutes.
Walls point Milan 9, Civitanova 12. Point hits Milan 5 with 22 errors, Civitanova 8 with 20 errors. Point attack Milan 50%, Civitanova 53%. Rice Milan 45% (21% perfect), Civitanova 40% (19%).
MVP: Tatsunori Otsuka (Allianz Milan)
