Novi Beograd to host Regional League F4; surprise in Dubrovnik

Like last year, the Final Four of the 2023 Regional League will be played in Belgrade.

Novi Beograd, the reigning Regional League champion, won 1st place in the regular season and got the right to organize the F4 in its pool “SC 11 April” for the second year in a row.

Besides Novi Beograd, Jadran Split, Radnicki and Jug Dubrovnik qualified for the F4 that will be played on March 25 and 26.

The venue and the participating teams will be the same as in 2022. We’ll see if the outcome will be the same. Last year, Novi Beograd beat Jadran in the final, Jug finished in 3rd and Radnicki in 4th place.

The tournaments of the last, fourth stage of the regular season in the Premier League were held in Dubrovnik and Split between Thursday and Saturday.

The big match of the tournament in Dubrovnik was an encounter between Jug and Novi Beograd, which was practically decisive in a race for the top spot. Novi Beograd beat the hosts 13:10 and secured 1st place. Today, Novi Beograd added a win over Primorac and finished the season with a perfect 11 – 0 record.

As for the group in Split, the derby was played on Day 1. Jadran Split blew Radnicki away – 15:3.

Jadran won 2nd place in the regular season, Radnicki finished in 3rd, and Jug in 4th place.

Jug suffered a shocking loss today. The Dubrovnik-based side was defeated by Mladost Zagreb 12:18. Because of that, the Croatian champion dropped from 2nd place, where it was until today, to 4th place.

Jadran was 4th before the fourth stage. But, the Split-based side made no mistakes at the tournament in Split. After beating Radnicki, it added victories over Crvena Zvezda and Partizan. Thanks to these successes and Jug’s surprising loss to Mladost, Jadran moved to 2nd place.

So, Jug will play against Novi Beograd in the semifinals in Belgrade, while Jadran and Radnicki will face off.

Primorac finished the season with no points in 12th place and was relegated to A1 League. Primorje Rijeka won 1st place in A1 League and will replace Primorac in the Premier League. Valis Valjevo (2nd place in A1 League) and Solaris will meet in the relegation playoffs.

Final standings: 1. Novi Beograd 33 pts, 2. Jadran 27, 3. Radnicki 25, 4. Jug AO 24, 5. Mladost 20, 6. Crvena Zvezda 19, 7. Sabac 13, 8.  Jadran HN 11, 9. Partizan 11, 10. Mornar 6, 11. Solaris 4, 12. Primorac 0.

2022/23 Regional League, Tournaments 4

Group in Dubrovnik

DAY 1

Jadran HN – Novi Beograd 10:13 (1:4, 2:3, 5:2, 2:4)
Jadran HN: Da.Radovic 3, Dj.Radovic 2, Muscat 2,Vukicevic 1, Caraj 1,
Novi Beograd: S.Rasovic 4, Mandic 2, Perkovic 2, Pijetlovic 1, Drasovic 1, Jaksic 1, Vlachopoulos 1, Skoumpakis 1.

Sabac – Jug 9:14 (5:5, 1:2, 2:5, 1:2)
Sabac: Toholj 2, Markovic 1, Korac 2, Barac 1, Tubic 1, Sulc 1, Stojanovic 1,..
Jug: Fatovic 5, Zuvela 3, Krzic 2, Kakaris 2, Vukojevic 1,Mozara 1.

Mladost – Primorac 12:11 (5:4, 3:3, 1:2, 3:2)
Mladost:Jelaca 3, Mijic 3, Gluhaic 2, Dadvani 1, Vrbjak 1, Rakovac 1, Elez 1.
Primorac: Mrsic 3, Macic 2, Stanojevic 2, Vujosevic 2, Gopcevic 1, F.Gardasevic 1.

A game between Jadran Herceg Novi and Novi Beograd opened the tournament in Dubrovnik. Nikola Jaksic played for Novi Beograd for the first time after a one-month break due to injury. A new-old name on Jadran’s roster was Djuro Radovic. The young player was suspended from the autumn of 2021 until February 21 since he made some mistakes in the anti-doping procedures. Until the end of the season, he will play for Jadran on loan, and after that, he will return to Olympiacos.

Novi Beograd led 5:1, 6:2, 7:3. Still, Jadran leveled at 8:8 in the 24th minute. Novi Beograd scored two goals for 10:8. Still, Jadran halved the deficit to 9:10 and 10:11. Strahinja Rasovic scored two goals within 24 seconds to give Novi Beograd a 13:10 lead and set the final score in the 30th minute.

Sabac kept up with Jug for almost two quarters. In the 16th minute, the score was 6:6. Loren Fatovic, the best player of the match (5 goals), scored an action goal 27 seconds before the middle break to give Jug a 7:6 lead. Jug dominated in the second half and recorded a comfortable win.

Mladost and Primorac played a very interesting match. Before the final quarter, the sides were tied at 9:9. The Montenegrins had a 10:9 and 11:10 advantage in the fourth period. Still, Mladost secured a 12:11 victory with two goals in the last 103 seconds.

DAY 2

Jug – Novi Beograd 10:13 (3:2, 0:3, 5:6, 2:2)
Jug: Fatovic 4, Krzic 2, Kakaris 2, Vukojevic 1, Biljaka 1.
Novi Beograd: Mandic 4, S.Rasovic 2, Jaksic 2, Granados 1, Pijetlovic 1, Drasovic 1, Vlachopoulos 1, Skoumpakis 1.

Mladost – Jadran HN 12:13 (4:3, 4:4, 3:3, 1:3)
Mladost: Jelaca 5, Dadvani 2, Gluhaic 2, Rakovac 2, Mijic 1.
Jadran Herceg Novi: Khalturin 4, Dj. Radovic 3, Muscat 2, Vujovic 1, Da.Radovic 1, Stupar 1, V.Radovic 1.

Primorac – Sabac 8:13 (3:0, 3:4, 1:4, 1:5)
Primorac: Krivokapic, Mrsic 2, Stanojevic 2, Vujošević 1, Gopcevic 1, F. Gardasevic 1, Bastrica 1.
Sabac: Repanovic 2, Barac 2, Sulc 2, Stojanovic 2, Toholj 2, Koptsev 1, Korac 1, Shakhudtinov 1.

The most anticipated match of the tournament, Jug – Novi Beograd, was an excellent game and a clash between two great goal-getters and captains – Dusan Mandic and Loren Fatovic.

The first quarter belonged to Jug (3:2), but Novi Beograd netted three unanswered goals in the second period and was 5:3 up at halftime. Still, Jug started returning after the middle break and leveled at 5:5 and 8:8. The visitors closed the third quarter with three straight goals in the last two minutes for 11:8. Still, the battle wasn’t over yet. Jug cut the deficit in the 27th minute (10:11) but didn’t go further. Novi Beograd recorded a 13:10 victory and mathematically secured 1st place.

Mladost played another exciting match against a Montenegrin club but left the pool empty-handed on Day 2. In the middle of the third period, Mladost was three steps ahead of Jadran Herceg Novi (11:8). Early in the final quarter, the Montenegrins leveled at 11:11. Mladost went in front once more (12:11). However, Jadran scored the last two goals in the match. Vasilije Radovic scored a winner in the 31st minute – 13:12.

Primorac surprised Sabac with a 3:0 first quarter. The Montenegrins had a 2-goal advantage at halftime (6:4). In the next two quarters, Sabac proved that it was the favorite (13:8). After this game, Primorac lost the last chance to move from 12th place.

DAY 3

Mladost – Jug 18:12 (4:4, 4:3, 7:2, 3:3)
HAVK Mladost:Gluhaic5, Mijic 3, Vrbnjak 2, Elez 2, Herceg 2, Fabris 2, Busic 1, Adeishvili 1.
Jug AO: Fatovic 3, Zvono 3, Mozata 2, Vukojevic 1, Krzic 1, Grgurevic 1, Zuvela 1.

Novi Beograd – Primorac 18:10 (5:4, 6:2, 3:2, 4:2)
Novi Beograd:S.Rasovic 5, Skoumpakis 4, Granados 2, Cetkovic 2, Shushiashvili 2, Jaksic 1, Vlachopoulos 1, V.Rasovic 1.
Primorac: F.Gardasevic 2, Mcic 2, Gopcevic 1, Paunovic 1, Stanojevic 1, Vujosevic 1, Bastrica 1, Perov 1.

Jadran HN – Sabac 12:17 (4:3, 2:3, 4:8, 2:3)
Jadran herceg Novi: Da.Radovic 3, Dj.Radovic 2, V.Radovic 2, Khalturin 1, Vukicevic 1, Vujovic 1, Gojkovic 1, Muscat 1.
Sabac: Sulc 5, Stojanovic 3, Markovic 2, Repanovic 2, Korac 2 Toholj 2, Koptsev 1.

The biggest surprise of the fourth stage was, undoubtedly, Mladost’s convincing victory over Jug. Mladost and Jug are among the world’s most decorated water polo clubs. But, the present and the past differ. Jug is a significantly better team than Mladost this season. However, the Dubrovnik-based side didn’t prove that in the water. An experienced Maro Jokovic didn’t play for Jug, but Mladost was without its best player and captain, Marko Jelaca. Mladost, which had nothing to lose or get in this game, imposed its rhythm from the first whistle. The Zagreb-based side opened the match with a 2:0 lead. Jug replied with three goals for 3:2. Mladost entered the second quarter with a slim 4:3 advantage. In the 14th minute, Jug went in front again (7:6) but Mladost regained the lead with two goals in the last 46 seconds of the second quarter (8:7).

The third quarter was a one-sided contest. Jug’s fans were in shock. Before the final period, Mladost was 15:9 up and didn’t stop there. The Zagreb-based side widened the margin to eight in the fourth quarter (18:10). Jug scored the last two goals.

Novi Beograd finished the regular season with a routine win over Primorac (18:10).

Sabac beat Jadran Herceg Novi in the last match of the tournament and jumped to 7th place.

Group in Split

DAY 1

Jadran S – Radnicki 15:3 (3:0, 2:1, 5:1, 5:1)
Jadran: Buric 2, Cagalj 2, Bukic 2, Setka 2, Butic 1, Pejkovic 1, Tomasovic 1, Delic 1, Dobud 1, Duzevic 1, Zovic 1.
Radnicki: Jankovic 1, Cuk 1, Pljevancic 1.

Partizan – Solaris 12:8 (2:3,2:1, 4:2, 4:2)
Partizan: Trtovic 4, Gladovic 3, Smiljevic 2, Gak 1, Bozovic 1, Giga 1.
Solaris: Rak 1, Kadmenovic 1, Butic 1, Krekovic 1, Penava 1, Sirovec 1, Burburan 1, T Sparada 1.

Crvena zvezda – Mornar 18:10 (4:4, 6:2, 5:3, 3:1)
Crvena Zvezda: Radovic 6, Milojevic 4, Gajic 2, Vasic 2, Dankovic 1, Banicevic 1, Vukicevic 1, Seman 1.
Mornar: Buzdovancic 3, D.Akrp 3, Cumbelic 2, Buselic 1.

In the last few seasons, many games between Jadran Split and Radnicki have been exciting. A month ago, they shared the points in Split in the Champions League match – 10:10 (Radnicki led 10:8 a minute before the end). Last week’s results indicated that Jadran and Radnicki would play another thrilling match. Radnicki shocked Olympiacos (10:10) in the Champions League, and Jadran suffered an away defeat to Barceloneta (6:8) but played well.

However, Radnicki was a shadow of the team that upset Olympiacos, while Jadran displayed an excellent performance. The Serbs, which had a „short bench“ and a lot of juniors on the team, ran out of gas for another demanding match. Jadran took a 5:0 lead before Radnicki scored its first goal. The visitors got on the scoreboard only three seconds before the middle break. At the beginning of the third quarter, they came closer (2:5), but Jadran didn’t let Radnicki come back and recorded a 15:3 win. Only one of Jadran’s field players didn’t get on the scoresheet – the team’s best scorer Jerko Marinic Kragic.

Although it started slowly, Partizan defeated Solaris, while Crvena Zvezda, playing excellently in the attack, was too strong for Mornar.

DAY 2

Mornar – Partizan 6:11 (3:1, 2:5, 1:2, 0:3)
Mornar: Buselic 2, D. Akrap 2, Cumbelic 1, Guduric 1.
Partizan: Gladovic 3, Smiljevic 2, Giga 2, P.Jaksic 1, Trtovic 1, Bozovic 1, Andjelic 1.

Crvena Zvezda – Jadran S 11:12 (4:2, 2:5, 1:3, 2:4)
Crvena Zvezda: Vukicevic 3, Gajic 2, Tankosic 1, Dankovic 1, Vasic 1, B.Banicevic 1, Basara 1, Milojevic 1.
Jadran Split: Bukic 4, Buric 2, Marinic-Kragic 2, Butic 1, Setka 1, Duzevic 1, Zovic 1.

Radnicki – Solaris 15:12 (5:4, 5:3, 2:2, 3:3)
Radnicki: Lukic 6, Stanojevic 3, Ukropina 2, Brankovic 1, Jankovic 1, Poznanovic 1, Draskovic 1.
Solaris: Erak 3, Rak 2, Penava 2, Jakovcevic 1,Condic Kadmenovic 1, Radan 1, Burburan 1, T. Sparada 1.

One day wasn’t enough for Radnicki to recover from a knockout in the match against Jadran. The Kragujevac-based beat Solaris on Day 2, but it didn’t play as it could and had a lot of ups and downs. Solaris led 4:2 in the first quarter. Radnicki responded with five consecutive goals for 7:4. Solaris came close (6:7, 7:8). Still, Radnicki, with outstanding Nikola Lukic (6 goals) produced a 3:0 run, jumped to an 11:7 lead (26th minute) and controlled the match until the end. With three points in this game, Radnicki qualified for the F4.

After the convincing victory over Radnicki, Jadran Split beat the Serbian Cup winner Crvena Zvezda in a very thrilling duel. The Serbs started excellently and took a 4:1 lead (the 7th minute). But, the hosts dictated the pace in the middle two quarters to enter the final period with a 10:7 advantage. In the 26th minute, the hosts stretched the margin to four (11:7), and the contest seemed over. Still, new excitement was coming. Crvena Zvezda made a 4:0 rush and caught up with Jadran in the 30th minute (11:11). However, Jadran took all three points, as Luka Bukic scored a winner 49 seconds before the end.

Partizan beat Mornar and, a round before the end, avoided the relegation playoffs. Mornar stunned the “Black-Whites” with an opening 3:0 lead. Shortly before the middle break, Partizan went in front for the first time (6:5) and dominated the second half.

DAY 3

Radnicki – Mornar 14:9 (3:3, 3:1, 1:3, 7:2)
Radnicki: Draskovic 6, Stanojevic 5, Jankovic 1, Vukosavljevic 1, Lukic 1.
Mornar: Cumbelic 2, Omrcen 2, Curkovic 1, L.Penava 1, Buzdovancic 1, D.Akrap 1.

Solaris – Crvena Zvezda 10:12 (2:3, 3:3, 3:4, 2:2)
Solaris: Jakovcevic 3, J.Penava 3, Condic Kadmenovic 2, Rak 1, Burburan 1.
Crvena Zvezda: Vukicevic 4, M.Radovic 4, Milojevic 2, Gajic 2.

Jadran S – Partizan 18:6 (3:0, 4:4, 5:2, 6:0)
Jadran Split:Cagalj 3, Setka 3, Duzevic 3, Bukic 2, Delic 2, Buric 1, Butic 1, Tomasovic 1, Dobud 1.
Partizan: Milos 2, Gak 2, Gladovic 2.

Radnicki, without Milos Cuk on the team, struggled in the last match of the tournament, just like in the previous two days. Still, it managed to beat Mornar. Vuk Draskovic, who arrived from Primorac recently, and Nemanja Stanojevic were Radnicki’s powerful engines. The teams were in a neck-and-neck race until 8:8 (26th minute). After that, Radnicki took control, produced a 5:0 run, and earned a safe 13:8 advantage in the 31st minute.

Solaris and Crvena Zvezda faced off in the second game of the day. Solaris was highly motivated. It would have avoided the playoffs and overtaken Mornar if he had defeated Crvena Zvezda. Still, Crvena Zvezda didn’t give Solaris the points on a silver platter. The Serbian Cup winners led throughout the game, but their advantage was never bigger than two goals. Solaris equalized twice (7:7 and 8:8). The Sibenik-based side trailed by a goal before the final minute (10:11). Rodoljub Gajic killed Solaris’ last hope by converting a man-up with 28 seconds left on the clock – 12:10.

An encounter between Jadran Split and Partizan was the last match in the regular season. The Split-based side knew that it had a chance to climb to 2nd place after Jug’s loss. The hosts needed a point to climb to position 2. Jadran could choose the opponent in the semifinals because several options were possible.

In the case of loss, Jadran would finish 4th and play against Novi Beograd in the semifinals.If the match had ended in a draw, Jadran would have finished second, Jug third, and Radnicki fourth. But, Jadran didn’t calculate and didn’t leave the decision for the finish of the game. The hosts opened the game with a 4:0 blast. Partizan halved the deficit twice (3:5 and 4:6), but Jadran ruled the field in the second half and left no chance to the “Black Whites”.

1. Novi Beograd 11 games – 33 points
2. Jadran Split 11 – 27
3. Radnicki 11 – 25
4. Jug AO 11 – 24
5. Mladost 11 – 20
6. Crvena Zvezda 11 – 19
7. Sabac 11 – 13
8. Jadran HN 11 – 11*
9. Partizan 11 – 11*
10. Mornar 11 – 6
11. Solaris 11 – 4
12. Primorac 11 – 0

*Head to head: Jadran – Partizan 14:14. Goal difference: Jadran – 14, Partizan – 20.