Serie A3/M, Volley Modica in the nest of Gabbiano Mantova for game 1 of the playoffs

Anticipation grows at Avimec Modica for game 1 of the first round of the promotion playoffs: on Sunday, at the PalaSguaitzer, the blue and white team from the County will visit Gabbiano Farmamed Mantova. This is an unprecedented challenge between two clubs facing each other for the first time. The Modica team aims to manage the tricky away game with determination and then try to secure qualification in the return match scheduled at PalaRizza on March 29.

“This year for the first time – explains coach Enzo Distefano – in the first round of the playoffs, the Blue group immediately crosses with the White group, leading to prohibitive away games in terms of distance and extremely difficult in terms of technical level because we know we will face teams of high caliber, composed of important players like Mantova, which we know little about because we have never met them, but we have been studying them since Monday and we know they have good players on the roster, especially important offensive wings both in height and trajectory, they have a well-constructed break phase, in fact, they are the first team after the powerhouse Reggio Emilia in the blocking and serving phase, so these are fundamentals that we will need to keep a close eye on.

The team – he continues – is focused and determined to try to go to Mantova and play our best game, from day one, we know that at the PalaSguaitzer we will not find a welcoming committee, but we will try to score as many points as possible to then aim to close game 2 at home because the PalaRizza is a fortress for us, we have always played well at home and probably this year we will have the advantage of playing the decisive game against Mantova in front of our fans.

The playoffs – he emphasizes – are a championship of their own and must be approached with a winner's mentality without ifs and buts, because those who win move on and those who lose go home, so we need to have a winning mentality in every situation, in every set, and on every ball because one episode could jeopardize a match, so – concludes Enzo Distefano – we must be attentive to all situations that arise in these two games and try to make the most of them.”

The group will hold its final training session at PalaRizza in the afternoon and will leave tomorrow morning for the long trip, with the declared goal of bringing home a positive result.

Leading the charge is the central player Daniele Buzzi, protagonist of a high-level season that has contributed to the results achieved so far.

“The upcoming matches – declares Daniele Buzzi – will all be crucial because we cannot afford to make any mistakes. We are preparing both psychologically and technically to the best of our ability to face Mantova, a team we know little about because they are from the White group and we are meeting them for the first time, so it will be an unknown factor, but we are studying them and preparing ourselves, trying to do our best. We come into this match after an extremely positive second half of the regular season with seven wins out of nine matches, so – he continues – we are confident and convinced of our potential and abilities, but our next opponents are also coming into the playoffs from a great moment, and the fact that they finished fifth and we fourth matters little because this championship has shown that all teams are at a high level, and we must not underestimate anyone, especially now in the playoffs, where it’s win or go home.”

“For me – concludes the central player of Avimec Modica – this is perhaps one of my best seasons not only since I’ve been in Modica, but in general since I started playing in this championship, and it is an immense joy for me to have finally reached 50 blocks, which has been my personal goal for the past five years. I am 1 point away from 900 points in Serie A, and reaching that milestone will be a wonderful thing, and I hope to score many more because it would mean we are advancing in these playoffs.”

Gabbiano Farmamed Mantova–Avimec Modica will be officiated by a referee duo from Umbria: Andrea Galteri and Azzurra Marani from the Perugia section. First serve at 6 PM.