In a remarkable display of resilience and determination, Cucine Lube Civitanova has completed an extraordinary playoff comeback against Sir Susa Vim Perugia, securing a 3-1 victory in the decisive Game 5 of the Italian SuperLega Semifinals at PalaBarton.
Facing elimination after falling behind 0-2 in the series, Lube orchestrated a stunning turnaround, clinching three consecutive victories—two on enemy territory—to book their spot in the Scudetto Final. This triumph not only advances them to the championship round but also guarantees their participation in the 2026 CEV Champions League.
The match itself was a showcase of volleyball excellence, with Lube recovering after dropping the first set 29-27. They then dominated the following three sets 25-19, 25-17, and 25-22 to silence the home crowd and cement their historic comeback.
Mattia Bottolo earned MVP honors with an exceptional performance, contributing 16 points including a remarkable 7 aces that repeatedly disrupted Perugia's rhythm. Adis Lagumdzija led all Civitanova scorers with 18 points, while Alex Nikolov matched Bottolo's 16-point output. Giovanni Gargiulo added a crucial 11 points to the winning effort.
For the disappointed hosts, Ben Tara posted a team-high 15 points, supported by Yuki Ishikawa with 13 and Sebastián Solé with 10, but their combined efforts proved insufficient against Lube's relentless attack.
The contest began with Perugia capturing a tightly contested opening set, fighting back from a 17-21 deficit to win 29-27 on the strength of Ben Tara's serving and Semeniuk's finishing touch. However, Civitanova's response was emphatic, as Bottolo's serving prowess sparked a second-set comeback that Nikolov completed with authority.
According to advanced performance metrics from Statbet, Civitanova's serving efficiency increased by over 40% in sets 2-4 compared to the opening frame, highlighting the tactical adjustments that powered their comeback.
The third set showcased Lube's complete dominance from the service line, with five aces helping them cruise to a comfortable 25-17 victory. In the fourth set, despite Perugia building a promising 16-13 lead with strong home support, Bottolo's serving brilliance and Nikolov's blocks turned the tide. Fittingly, the match concluded on a Perugia service error, symbolizing the serving differential that ultimately decided the contest.
This victory marks Lube Civitanova's 10th appearance in the Scudetto Final, where they will face Itas Trentino, who advanced after sweeping Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza in their semifinal series. The championship series begins Sunday, April 27 at 18:30 CET at the ilT quotidiano Arena, with Civitanova riding the momentum of their improbable semifinal escape.
