Sebastian Sole shines as Sir wins first game with Gas Sales

Sir Susa Vim Perugia took the lead in the best-of-three third-place playoff in the Italian men’s SuperLega Credem Banca, with the bronze medals and a ticket to next season’s CEV Champions League at stake. On Tuesday evening, the still reigning Italian champions produced a four-set home victory over Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza.

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After taking the epic first set, the squad from Perugia pushed on to celebrate a 3-1 (37-35, 25-18, 19-25, 25-18) win. While Gas Sales, with many of their key players absent from the court, did better than Sir in blocking and serving, the hosts established control on the court, taking charge in offence and making fewer unforced errors.

Still, Sir’s Argentinean-born middle blocker Sebastian Sole himself raised four kill blocks and fired eight successful swings at a 67% success rate in attack to finish with 12 points and earn the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Tunisian opposite Wassim Ben Tara was the best scorer of the match with 18 points. Outside hitters Oleh Plotnytskyi of Ukraine, with two aces, and Kamil Semeniuk of Poland, with one ace, contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively, in total towards the Block Devils’ success.

Their counterparts Efe Mandiraci of Türkiye, with three aces and two blocks, and Stephen Maar of Canada, with one ace and one block, led Gas Sales’ scorers with 16 points apiece. Opposite Yuri Romano added another 13, while Cuban middle Robertlandy Simon impressed with five kill blocks and a 67% success rate in offence to reach the double digits with a total of 11 points.

The second game of the series will be played in Piacenza on Saturday, May 3.

SuperLega Credem Banca 2024-2025 championship playoff, 2nd leg:
May 01, 18:15 local (16:15 UTC): Cucine Lube Civitanova v Itas Trentino Trento

SuperLega Credem Banca 2024-2025 third-place playoff, 2nd leg:
May 03, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza v Sir Susa Vim Perugia

SuperLega Credem Banca 2024-2025 fifth-place semifinals:
May 03, 17:30 local (15:30 UTC): Allianz Milan v Rana Verona
May 03, 17:30 local (15:30 UTC): Valsa Group Modena v Sonepar Padova Padua

SuperLega Credem Banca 2024-2025 schedule and results

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