The technician is satisfied, also considering the difficulties of approaching “I know well that we are not at our best, but we have to give everything anyway”
THE INTERVIEW
Coach Diego Poletto remembers well the double challenge of last June when, at the helm of Da Rold Logistics Belluno, he faced Geetit Bologna twice in the final of the Serie B playoffs. In the first leg the Emilians won 3-1. On the return Belluno won 3-1 but, at the Golden set, was forced to succumb. A few months ago, the two teams nevertheless found themselves in the A3 series championship. But the team of coach Asta still won (albeit at the tie-break). Yesterday, for the first time, it was Belluno who left the field with a smile.
«To be honest», coach Poletto said, «also in the return match of the last playoffs we had won 3-1 against Bologna. Too bad, however, that it was not enough because the decisive set was then won by our opponents. But, regardless of the past, the one against Geetit was a match of incredible importance ».
In what sense?
«The preparation for this match started in a difficult period. Bologna was an opponent that we feared a lot, with an opposite with very high level numbers. More generally, Bologna is a team that knows how to beat, receive, defend ».
So how did Belluno manage to prevail?
«We were really good at putting them in difficulty in batting, serving continuously and putting their game system in difficulty. Overall, it was a very mixed race. I think the mirror of the match was that third set in which, after being down 14-6, we came to impact on 15 all and in the end we won the advantages. That set was a bit of a photocopy of the fourth set we had undergone in Bologna ».
Winning after a difficult month like the one experienced by Da Rold Logistics Belluno was not a foregone conclusion, even though Bologna was lagging behind by several lengths …
«And we must be very happy with this result, which gives us the right push to continue working and recovering. Working and thinking after such a result is different. It gives us breath. These are three very heavy points ».
How much has the stop due to Covid affected your recent preparation?
«Physically, the fatigue was felt. It was a little like starting the preparation all over again. But these are problems that affect others as well. Maybe there are those who are a little luckier and those who are less. But this situation belongs to this championship and there are two ways to deal with it: you can be fatalistic, or you can try to do your best despite the difficulties. I ask my boys exactly this second thing: to give our best even if we are not at our best ».
On Wednesday, meanwhile, Belluno will go down again to Pineto, this time to face Abba in the single match of the second round of the Del Monte Coppa Italia. What can be expected?
«Wednesday will be a delicate match. Not so much for the result, but for the management of the moment. Resources are scarce and we must try to waste as little as possible. We will have to think very well about what to do. An example? We entered Candeago, but was it worth the risk? In that moment, in my opinion, yes, but maybe not at another. And the same goes for Martinez. We could have let him in, but what was the point of risking him? I can add one thing, however: going to play in Pineto on Wednesday would have been much more difficult if we had lost against Bologna ». –
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