Allianz Milano defeated Sonepar Padova 3:2 sets (30-28; 29-27; 25-27; 18-25; 16-14) on the road in a postponed match from the fifth round of the SuperLega, after a contested tie-break, which ended 10-15. Bulgarian middle blocker Boris Nachev did not participate in the match.
The Strength of Milano: Reggers and Cacioppa
Opposite hitter Ferre Reggers was once again in the spotlight with an impressive 28 points, proving his role as a key scorer. Equally important was the return of setter Fernando Kreling – Cacioppa. After an injury and a long absence, he not only led Milano's offense but was also chosen as the MVP of the match – a decisive factor in the fifth set.
They were joined by Otsuka (23 pts) and Recine (19 pts), who maintained a high tempo during the first two sets. For Padova, Nikola Masulovic was again the top scorer with 26 points, and Gardini added 19 – but their efforts were not enough for a complete comeback.
Final Statistics
| Padova | Milano |
|---|---|
| 2 sets | 3 sets |
| Masulovic – 26 pts | Reggers – 28 pts |
| Gardini – 19 pts | Otsuka – 23 pts |
| — | Cacioppa – MVP |
The difference came in key moments – Milano had higher attacking efficiency in the tie-break and more stable setting thanks to Cacioppa.
Standings
| Team | Points |
|---|---|
| Sir Susa Scai Perugia | 16 |
| Cucine Lube Civitanova | 13 |
| Rana Verona | 12 |
| Valsa Group Modena | 10 |
| Itas Trentino | 9 |
| Allianz Milano | 7 |
| Gas Sales Piacenza | 6 |
| Sonepar Padova | 6 |
With this success, Milan climbs to seventh position, while Padua remains in the middle of the standings, but with a record that does not reflect their good play in the last two sets.
