Jadran Herceg Novi is a step closer to a new title of the Montenegrin Championships. The reigning champion defeated Primorac convincingly (9:4) in the first match of the playoffs final.
The quarterfinal phase has been finished in Croatia. There were no surprises. Jadran Split, Mladost and Solaris advanced to the semifinals and joined Jug Dubrovnik, which secured its spot among the last four earlier.
2021/22 Montenegrin League, playoffs
Final (best of five), 1st match
Jadran HN – Primorac 9:4 (2:1, 3:1, 1:0, 3:2)
Jadran Herceg Novi: Obradovic 2, Da. Radovic 2, Ceraj 2, Vucurovic 1, M.Garadasevic 1, Sladovic 1.
Primorac: Macic 2, Stanojevic 1, Vujosevic 1.
Primorac earned a 1:0 lead in the 2nd minute of the game, but Jadran responded with three and went to 3:1 (9th minute). Shortly after Vujošević made it 2:3. However, Jadran kept Primorac scoreless between the 11th and the 31st minute to secure a convincing win. The hosts dominated, they produced a 5:0 series. Early in the fourth quarter, Ceraj scored an action goal and streched the margin to six (8:2). Macic broke Primorac’s silence for 3:8 in the 31st minute, but it was too late. Jadran’s good defense and Primorac’s bad percentage of extra player shots (2/11) were crucial for the outcome. But, Jadran also had a poor percentage of power-play shots (1/6).
The second match is on Saturday.
For 3rd place, 1st match
The first game in the 3rd-place playoffs, Budva – Cattaro, is scheduled for April 7.
For all results, live scores and the schedule visit the page 2021/22 Montenegrin Championship, Total Waterpolo Arena
2021/22 Croatian League, playoffs, quarterfinals (best of two)
2nd leg
Mladost – Primorje 11:6 (3:2, 3:3, 3:0, 2:1) – 1st leg 12:11
Mladost: Dasic 3, Bajic 3, Biljaka 2, Rakovac 2, Lazic 1.
Primorje: Maros Tkac 2, Brubnjak 1, Blazic 1,Burburan 1, Jurisic 1.
Jadran S – Medvescak 21:10 (4:4, 6:1, 3:3, 8:2) – 1st leg 17:7
Jadran S: Stojanac 5, Marinic Kragic 3, Kharkov 3, Dodoja 3, R.Buric 2, Cagalj 2, Pavlovic 2, Galic 1.
Medvedsak: Car 4, Gavranic 3, Simunovic 2, Ursic 1.
Solaris – Mornar BS 9:7 (1:2, 3:3, 3:0, 2:2) – 1st leg 12:10
Solaris: Bulat 2, Koprcina 2, Goreta 2, Strkalj 1, Kovalenko 1, Pelicaric 1.
Mornar BS: R.Akrap 2, Hrvatic 2, Vrdoljak 1, D.Akrap 1, Buselic 1.
Played earlier
Jug AO – KPK Korcula 17:1 – 1st leg 27:4
Mladost defeated Primorje narrowly in Rijeka. The encounter between the same rivals in Zagreb had a similar scenario, but only in the first half. Mladost dictated the pace throughout the first half, but it couldn’t build a big advantage. In the 14th minute, Primorje went in front for the first time (5:4). However, the hosts netted two more goals before the middle break and added three in the third quarter. Mladost entered the final period with a 9:5 advantage. In the 26th minute, Matijas Biljaka scored an action goal for 10:5 and there was no way back for Primorje. The player of the match was Mladost’s goalkeeper Jerko Jurlina, who posted 17 saves.
Jerko Jurlina (Mladost) Photo by VK Novi Beograd
A few days after winning the silver medal in the Regional League, Jadran had an easy task in the quarters. The Croatian Cup winner, playing with a rejuvenated squad, ran over Medvescak once more.
Solaris earned a two-goal lead in the first match against Mornar, but the Split-based side erased the deficit after a few minutes of the match in Sibenik, taking a 2:0 lead. Midway through the second quarter, Mornar led 4:2 and 5:3. But, Solaris took control after that. The hosts produced a 4:0 run to make a safe 7:5 advantage before the final quarter.
The semifinals (best of three): Jug – Mladost, Jadran S – Solaris. The first matches are scheduled for April 13.
Serbian League, relegation playoffs(best of three)
First match
Nais – Valjevo 10:12 (2:4, 2:2, 4:4, 2:2)
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