The long uphill ratio of Prosecco Doc Imoco The key is the bench

CONEGLIANO

The first month of the season was for the Conegliano panthers as for a cyclist to make a climb with the gearbox locked on a long gear, more suited to the plains. Large and small injuries, direct and indirect consequences of the overloaded summer with the Olympics and the European Championship in just over a month, rotations often forced by the rule on the Italians on the field have resulted in a reduction in the gap between the Gialloblù team and its contenders . In the end, the decisive blow to the back at the finish line of the individual matches was given by Egonu and her teammates, who have long been accustomed to managing complicated situations and counting on the contribution of the whole bench, none excluded. Of the 2019 World Cup, few remember the last match of the group against Itambé Minas, with Sylla, Egonu and Folie at rest and two different sextets on the pitch. Conegliano with Gennari, Enweonwu, Botezat, Ogbogu, Sorokaite, Geerties and Fersino won the fifth 28-26, finishing first and avoiding the derby with Novara in the semifinal. The year before there was the sensational comeback in the Champions League against Eczacibasi, the last team capable of winning at Palaverde: 0-3 at home, 4-1 in Istanbul. In the first part of 2021 the three very long challenges against Scandicci (first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals), Novara (game 1 of the championship final) and Vakifbank (final for the European title) were in some way the prologue to what we see today: but if the team was at full strength and in top form then, now, with heavy absences and an overall condition under construction, wins have a higher specific value. The set count is merciless (18 won, 3 lost) and impresses the ability to manage the decisive balls, which until now had rarely been put to the test. Saturday with a tough client like Busto will need to maintain the same cynicism in key moments, avoiding often ending up on the corner. –

MIRCO CAVALLIN