The finalists of the 2024 Italian League, Pro Recco and Savona, achieved convincing victories in the 16th round of the Italian Championships. Trieste’s water polo players also performed well, making Round 16 satisfying for them. The most thrilling matches of the day featured the Sicilian clubs Catania and Telimar.
Trieste beat Posillipo more convincingly than expected – 14:8. Vuk Draskovic scored three goals for the winning team. Trieste converted from seven out of nine extra player shots, while Posillipo’s power-play conversion was lower than 50% (5/13). Trieste remains in 4th place, which leads to the playoffs, while Posillipo dropped to 7th.
A surprise of the day happened in Sicily, where Catania welcomed Roma Vis Nova. Before the match, Catania had only accumulated three points in the standings, while the visitors were in 5th place. The teams shared the points – 14:14. The visitors from Rome likely expected an easy victory, but the match turned into a competitive battle. Catania had a 13:11 advantage midway through the final quarter. The visitors made a 3:0 run in 3:13 minutes and went ahead – 14:13 (31st minute). They were very close to a win they expected, but Catania’s Russo scored an equalizer with 19 seconds to go, making his fifth goal in the match.
Roma Vis Nova is still in 5th place, but it is three points behind Trieste.
Sixth-placed De Akker Bologna defeated Telimar 15:12, with five goals from Stefano Luongo. Late in the third period, Telimar had an 11:9 advantage. But that was followed by De Akker’s 6:0 series, which knocked down the Palermo-based team. After the hosts went to 15:11, Telimar scored a consolation goal.
Russian Daniil Merkulov made the difference in the game Savona – Iren Quinto. Merkulov contributed to Savona’s 12:7 victory with five goals.
Giacomo Cannella netted three goals to help Pro Recco beat Olympic Roma 13:5.
Update, February 9: On Sunday, Brescia defeated Ortigia 17:7 and continues to share first place with Pro Recco. Ferrero led Brescia’s attack with five goals.
Italian League, Round 16
Pro Recco – Olympic Roma 13:5 (3:0, 2:2, 3:1, 5:2)
Catania – Roma Vis Nova 14:14 (4:3, 4:4, 4:4, 2:3)
Savona – Iren Genova Quinto 12:7 (4:3, 3:1, 5:2, 3:1)
Trieste – Posillipo 14:8 (3:0, 4:4, 4:1, 3:3)
De Akker – Telimar 15:12 (3:5, 4:2, 3:4, 5:1)
Florentia – Onda Forte 9:9 (3:3, 2:1, 4:4, 0:1)
Brescia – Ortigia 17:7 (7:2, 4:2, 3:1, 3:2)
Standings
1.Pro Recco 16 – 46
2.Brescia 16 – 46
3.Savona 16 – 39
4. Trieste 16 – 31
5. Roma Vis Nova 16 -28
6. De Akker 16 – 27
7. Posillipo 16 – 25
8. Ortigia 16 – 22
9. Telimar 16 – 17
10.Florentia 16 – 15
11.Quinto 16 – 13
12. Olympic Roma 16 – 11
13. Catania 16 – 4
14. Onda Forte 16 – 2
