Elite volleyball returned to the Gran Canaria Arena with one of those evenings that will be remembered for years, despite the fact that the final result was elusive for local interests. He CV Guaguas touched absolute glory by putting Sir Sicoma Monini on the ropes Perugia, current European and world champion.
The yellows, in a display of courage and pride, were able to rise from 0-2 down to force a tie-break that ended up being decided by the Italian giants (2-3).
The beginning of the clash already predicted that Guaguas was not going to be a mere guest at the Perugia party. Despite the significant loss of Nico Bruno, Tomas Rousseaux took the lead in attack, leading an electric start that surprised Angelo Lorenzetti's pupils.
A consistent Perugia increases its advantage against the yellows by also winning the set by 20-25 in a half hour of play
However, the Perugia's power is no coincidence; Supported by an imperial Wassim Ben Tara (22 points) and the baton of Giannelli, the transalpines knew how to suffer to overcome a very tight first set (23-25) and then punish the Canarian doubts in a second set where Yuki Ishikawa began to impose his law (20-25).
With the score at 0-2, many considered the game over, but the DNA of Sergio Miguel Camarero's team says otherwise. The Gran Canaria Arena became a caldera when Walla Souza (top scorer with 23 points) and the eternal Osmany Juantorena began to bombard the Italian reception.
Guaguas closed the gap in a heart-stopping third set (25-22) and, far from settling, went over the world champion in an anthological partial quarter. With a superb MartÃn Ramos at the net and a partial score of 25-16, Guaguas forced Perugia to risk their prestige in the fifth set.
In the sudden death, the experience of the Italian team was the differentiating factor. Although Juantorena kept the pulse until the change of field (8-7), the effectiveness of Sebastián Solé in blocking and the executing arm of Ben Tara silenced the pavilion with a final partial of 2-8 that closed the duel (10-15).
The Guaguas thus adds its first point in this Champions Leaguea point flavored with a moral victory that shows that the yellow team is capable to look the ocean liners of world volleyball in the eyes.
