Jadran Split will enter the playoffs of the Croatian Championships as the 1st-placed.
The Croatian Cup winner lost narrowly to Jug (10:11) in the last round of the regular season on Wednesday. Despite the defeat in the derby, Jadran stayed atop the table.
Partizan advanced to the semifinals of the playoffs in the Serbian League.
Jadran Herceg Novi and Primorac Kotor recorded new victories in the Montenegrin Championships.
2021/22 Croatian League, Day 14
Groups for places 1st – 5th
Jug – Jadran S 11:10 (0:2, 3:3, 4:3, 4:2)
Solaris – Mornar 12:7 (3:2, 3:4, 4:0, 2:1)
Mladost bye
Before the last round, Jadran had three points more than Jug. Jadran defeated Jug 13:11 in the first phase of the regular season and has a significantly better goal-difference than Jug. Therefore, the Dubrovnik-based team needed a 3-goal win to climb to 1st place.
But, the match didn’t start well for the hosts. Jadran scored two unanswered goals in the first quarter, and jumped to 5:1 (14th minute). Still, Jug was able to come back. The hosts leveled at 5:5 in the middle of the third quarter. In the following minutes, the teams were neck and neck. Three minutes and 50 seconds before the end, Jug went in front for the first time. Konstantinos Kakaris converted a man-up for 9:8. Then, the teams exchanged goals. Jadran equalized twice (9:9 and 10:10). Jadran’s Buric netted for 10:10 with 01:14 minutes left on the clock, and it was more or less clear that Jug couldn’t secure a three-goal win. But, the home side didn’t give up. In the last minute, goalkeeper Toni Popadic joined his teammates in the attack, the hosts had a man-up (7 on 6), but they didn’t make a miracle. Maro Jokovic scored the last goal in the match with 24 seconds to go and Jug recorded a consolation 11:10 victory.
Stylianos Argyropoluos and Hrvoje Benic were the best scorers for the winning team (3 goals each). Maro Jokovic and Kontantinos Kakaris netted two apiece, and Loren Fatovic one. Rino Buric and Andjelo Setka scored three goals both for Jadran. Jerko Marinic Kragic added two, and Zvonimir Butic, Luka Bukic one each.
Solaris beat Mornar to confirm 4th place in the table. Mornar’s Duje Buzdovancic was the best scorer of the match with four goals. Jerko Penava netted three for Solaris.
1. Jadran S 13 – 36
2. Jug 13 – 36
3. Mladost 13 – 27
4. Solaris 13 – 19
5. Mornar 13 – 16
Head to head: Jadran – Jug 13:11 and 10:11
Group for places 6th – 10th
KPK Korcula – Primorje 9:10 (2:2, 2:2, 3:3, 2:3)
Zadar – POSK postponed
Medvescak bye
6.Primorje 13 – 24
7. KPK Korcula 13 – 13
8.Medvescak13 – 10
9. POSK 12 – 4
10. Zadar 1952 12 – 3
Playoffs, quarterfinals (best of two): Medvescak – Jadran S, KPK Korcula – Jug AO, Primorje EB – Mladost, Mornar BS – Solaris.
The dates of the games will be determined soon.
2021/22 Serbian League, quarterfinals (best of two)
2nd leg
Partizan – Valis 16:9 (0:2, 2:1, 5:3, 9:3) – 1st leg 17:10
Partizan: Vickovic 3, Andrin 2, Bozovic 2, Vico 2, Milos 2, Kojic 2, Jaksić 1,Bowen 1, Radojević 1, Vavić 1.
Valis: Zivojinovic 4, Jegorov 2, Porobic 2, Kovacevic 1, Gavrilovic 1.
Novi Beograd – Proleter (on Saturday) – 1st leg 24:6
Radnicki – Vojvodina (on Saturday) – 1st leg 18:11
Crvena Zvezda – Sabac (on Saturday) – 1st leg 13:13
Partizan started slowly, and Valis fought as hard as it could. The favorite took control after the middle break and cruised to a 16:9 victory to secure a spot in the semifinals.
The semifinals will be played in May. Pairings for the semifinals (best of three): Partizan – Radnicki or Vojvodina, Novi Beograd/Proleter – Crvena Zvezda/Sabac
2021/22 Montenegrin League, Day 9
Budva – Jadran HN 8:9 (3:2, 0:2, 2:4, 3:1) play-by-play action and statistics
Cattaro – Primorac 6:10(0:1, 2:2, 2:4, 2:3) play-by-play action and statistics
Budva – Jadran HN Photo by Krsto Vulovic/VPSCG
Reigning champion Jadran Herceg Novi had to work hard to earn an away win over Budva. The hosts started better and made a 3:2 lead, but Jadran, led by Jovan Vujovic, who scored six goals, dominated the second and the third quarter. The visitors entered the fourth quarter with a solid 8:5 advantage. Budva cut the deficit (7:8) after less than two minutes of play in the fourth quarter. Everything was practically decided in the 31st minute when Sladovic doubled Jadran’s advantage (9:7). Immediately after, Budva’s Draskovic converted a man-up for 8:9. Budva had a chance to level the score, but Cetkovic’s shot went wide with 23 seconds to go. Cetkovic was the best scorer on the home side, he netted three goals.
Primorac beat Cattaro 10:6.
1.Jadran HN 10 – 27
2. Primorac 10 – 21
3. Budva 10 – 7
4. Cattaro 10 – 1
For all results, live scores and the schedule visit the page 2021/22 Montenegrin Championship, Total Waterpolo Arena
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