CEV SuperFinals: rendezvous with history
Tomorrow in Antalya Paola Egonu can be the first volleyball player ever to win the top European trophy with four different teams. Velasco in the meantime is already sending messages...
Antalya, May 4th 2024
Here I am.
It’s been a while since my last contribution to Volleyball Stories, though perhaps you've been following my sport business newsletter, Fubolitix, written in Italian.
This time, my intention is to resume regular updates, not just weekly, starting with coverage of the 2024 Nations League. Exciting developments are underway in the world of volleyball, with new investments pouring in from countries like the US, Japan, Indonesia, and South Korea, making this season's transfer market surprisingly vibrant.
Stay tuned as I plan to be in Lodz at the end of June. The next two months promise to be brimming with emotion and energy, beginning right here in Antalya, Turkey, where I currently find myself. Antalya will host a couple of weeks of Nations League matches in May too.
But let's delve into the current events.
As the club volleyball season draws to a close, tomorrow in Antalya, starting at 3 pm, three Italian teams - men's Trentino and women's Conegliano and Monza - will compete alongside Jastrzebski Wegiel in the Super Finals of the CEV Champions League.
I'm also covering the event on iVolleyMagazine, for those who prefer to read in Italian.
One of the highlights of the Turkish Sunday will be Paola Egonu's pursuit of what could be her fourth championship victory with her fourth different club: Novara (2019), Conegliano (2021), Istanbul (2023).
However, Egonu, a volleyball superstar on and off the court, may soon find herself once again a subject of interest for the Italian National Team.
Two days ago, Julio Velasco, Italian Women’s team coach, introduced his philosophy for the upcoming national team volleyball season. And he couldn’t be more clear: "team over players".
He posed the question, "Is it better to have the best possible player as a reserve, or the one happier to be a reserve?".
Reflecting on the 90s, when he led Italy to consecutive World Championships in 1990 and 1994, Velasco made a pivotal decision favoring team harmony over individual talent. He opted for Paolo Tofoli over Fabio Vullo, despite Vullo's stellar credentials, in a move that epitomized his philosophy.
Vullo was, in that moment, the best Italian setter by far, playing in Ravenna when he won 3 Champions League in a row (1992, 93, 94) in a collection of 7 in total (4 times in Modena: 1990, 96, 97, 98), in the starting six at Barcelona ‘92 Olympics when Italy incredibly was kicked out in the Quarter Finals by The Netherlands 3-2 (17-16 in the tie break).
He preferred to play with Paolo Tofoli instead: a very good and loyal playmaker which didn’t arrive to WC1998 when Bebeto, his successor, went all in with Marco Meoni, a 197cm setter also considered “modern” (because taller) for the role in that moment.
Was Velasco alluding to Egonu on Thursday? We can't say for certain, but his statement marks a clear shift from his previous assertion that "Egonu will be the starter and Antropova the backup."
Ekaterina Antropova played an amazing season in Scandicci and would be for sure a player able to 100% fill the position without regrets.
While rivalries are inherent in every sport, Italy historically thrives when clear selections are made, avoiding prolonged battles for positions. That’s a reality in volleyball but we could refer to football too.
There's no denying that, with Russia sidelined for known reasons, Italy currently dominates European volleyball, both in the men's and women's divisions.
At clubs level, only Poland (and Wegiel will tell us soon) can compete at the moment, and the Champions League winners list is telling us clearly - with the recent 3 trophies in a row lift by Zaksa - that Plus Liga’s clubs are not just challengers.
At the club level, only Poland rivals Italy's prowess, as evidenced by recent three Champions League victories in a row by Zaksa.
Conegliano and Monza arrived in Antalya after amazing semifinals where they won against Eczacıbaşı Dynavit and reigning champions Vakifbank Istanbul.
Destiny’s funny sometimes: last year no Italian team made it to the finals played in Turin while 2 Turkish (Eczacibasi and Vakifbank) got qualified. This time Turkish’s hopes has been stopped before the last act.
This weekend Italy will take home his 18th Women’s Champions League and 16th Final, having sent 34 times their teams into the last match of the competition, more than Russia’s 29 times (with 22 titles).
Monza, the 12th Italian team to reach the final, could potentially become the ninth Italian club to be crowned champions.
On the men’s side, Trentino aims for its fourth title after triumphs in 2009, 2010, and 2011. With 38 final appearances and 19 wins, Italian clubs have outshone their Russian counterparts, showcasing Italy's depth and tradition in the sport.
While Poland's ascent looms on the horizon, Italy remains unrivaled in quality and tradition. Perhaps Poland's time will come soon, maybe even in this edition of the Champions League, where Jastrzebski Wegiel vies for its second consecutive final appearance and its first continental trophy. And will play as a favourite.
We eagerly await what promises to be the most exhilarating Sunday of the season: a rendezvous with history.
Stay tuned; the best is yet to come! And… speak soon!
Giovanni