Member Associations | 6 Jun 2021

Apuania Carrara won their fifth Italian championship in history

Apuania Carrara won their fifth Italian national championship, the previous ones were in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018. In the final match, which was played in the Sports Hall of Carrara against Top Spin Messina Fontalba, club’s great adversary and winner in 2019, won the draw (3-3) that was enough, having finished the regular season in the first position. Also during the regular season the two teams had drawn and Apuania prevailed thanks to the highest number of points.

The players led by coach Alessandro MERCIADRI won the first two singles, with the Russian Aleksander SHIBAEV'S 3-1 over Portuguese João MONTEIRO and Leonardo MUTTI'S 3-2 over Marco Rech DALDOSSO. Top Spin, trained by coach WANG Hong Liang, recovered, because French Andrea LANDRIEU beat 3-1 Mihai BOBOCICA and MONTEIRO defeated 3-0 MUTTI. SHIBAEV closed the score, with 3-1 over LANDRIEU. With the result already decided, Rech DALDOSSO overcame BOBOCICA 3-0.

“Unfortunately it was a strange season, due to Covid-19”, said the President of Apuania Carrara Guglielmo BELLOTTI,” which forced us to play only the first round of the regular season. I think we deserved this title anyway. I have to congratulate Top Spin Messina for how they play this Championship, which was challenging for everyone. We faced each other twice and on both occasions we drew. The 15 points more we got in the regular season match were decisive. We had built a team for trophy and we are happy to have hit the target. BOBOCICA, MUTTI, SHIBAEV and LIVENTSOV have all given the contribution we expected and, together with them, all the members of the club have done their duty to the full. Our winning weapon was SHIBAEV, who again in the final won both the singles he played. Mutti also was very important beating Rech DALDOSSO. This fifth championship is the most significant for me, because it was the first I won as President. Thanks to all those who have allowed us to get here”.

Apuania Carrara - Top Spin Messina Fontalba

Aleksander SHIBAEV - João MONTEIRO 3-1 (6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6)

Leonardo MUTTI - Marco RECH DALDOSSO 3-2 (11-4, 3-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7)

Mihai BOBOCICA - Andrea LANDRIEU 1-3 (7-11, 6-11, 11-6, 7-11)

Leonardo MUTTI - João MONTEIRO 0-3 (8-11, 3-11, 8-11)

Aleksander SHIBAEV - Andrea LANDRIEU 3-1 (11-8, 11-2, 6-11, 11-6)

Mihai BOBOCICA - Marco RECH DALDOSSO 0-3 (9-11, 8-11, 4-11)