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Round 19 of the Regional Water Polo League featured numerous intense matches, highlighted by decisive wins from leading contenders and an exhausting penalty shootout. League leaders Jadran Herceg Novi and Novi Beograd secured easy away victories, keeping them tied at the top. Jug Dubrovnik was defeated by Radnički, which tightened the competition among the top four, and Jadran Split also achieved a predicted victory. In the meantime, Primorac Kotor narrowly overcame Šabac in a tense penalty shootout, while Mladost Zagreb sailed past Valis, who are in last place. Following is a summary of Round 19, organized by game:
Crvena Zvezda 4 – 21 Jadran Herceg Novi
Jadran Herceg Novi overwhelmed Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, achieving a remarkable 21–4 win. In the first four minutes, the visiting team scored 4 unanswered points, hinting at a possible blowout. Zvezda only managed to score just before the end of the first half (at that moment, Jadran was ahead 9:1). In the second half, Jadran maintained a “shooting practice”, showcasing their dominance at both ends of the pool. Danilo Radović spearheaded the attack with 4 goals, while Uroš Vučurović and Matija Sladović contributed 3 each. This uneven victory, with a remarkable 17-goal difference, emphasized Jadran’s offensive strength and aided their confident recovery following a recent loss in Europe.
Solaris 7 – 13 Novi Beograd
The defending champion Novi Beograd showcased a strong performance in Šibenik, defeating Solaris with a score of 13–7. Novi Beograd established a 6:2 advantage by the end of the first half and seemed to be cruising. In the opening phase of the third period, Solaris managed to score two rapid goals, reducing the deficit to 4:6 and providing the home fans with a glimmer of hope. Nonetheless, the Belgrade powerhouse promptly responded with a 3:0 run to regain a comfortable lead at 9:4. Novi Beograd managed the pace of the game from that point on and increased its lead to six goals by the end of the match. Veteran marksmen Miloš Ćuk and Angelos Vlachopoulos led Novi Beograd’s offense, each scoring 3 goals. Novi Beograd remains level on points at the top of the standings thanks to the victory, demonstrating their depth and champion’s composure whenever Solaris attempted to confront them.
Šabac 16 – 16 Primorac (Primorac wins 25–24 on PSO)
Primorac Kotor triumphed against Šabac in a nail-biting contest, securing victory 25–24 in a penalty shootout after the teams were tied 16–16 at the end of regular time. The visiting Primorac began with strength, going four goals ahead halfway through the second quarter. Šabac, however, made a remarkable comeback on home water, and by the end of the third period, the Serbian team had astonishingly taken a 13:12 lead. The fourth quarter experienced dramatic fluctuations. Primorac took the lead again at the start of the period, but Šabac responded with two consecutive goals, making it 15:14 and then 16:15 shortly thereafter. As they managed to level the score at 16:16 in the last minute of normal time, Primorac declined to concede, which resulted in a penalty shootout. During the shootout, both teams matched each other through 10 rounds of shots. In the end, Primorac secured victory in one of the season’s most thrilling conclusions by narrowly winning 9–8 in the penalty shootout. In this marathon match, the Kotor club secured two points (while Šabac earned one for the shootout loss) due to calmer nerves in the final shot round. Supporters experienced an offensive exhibition with a remarkable 32 goals in regulation and a nail-biting finish, culminating in Primorac’s goalkeeper making the crucial save during the shootout.
Radnički 17 – 12 Jug Dubrovnik
In Kragujevac, Radnički defeated Jug Adriatic (Jug Dubrovnik) with a score of 17–12, pulling ahead in the last quarter. The competition was intense across all three periods. Radnički scored the first two goals, but Jug answered with four consecutive goals to take a 4:2 lead in the first quarter. In response, the hosts reciprocated: Radnički scored five goals in a row to take a 7:4 lead by the second quarter’s midpoint. Jug did not relent, and as the third quarter concluded, the deficit was reduced (Radnički was ahead 11:10 going into the fourth). At 14:12, with roughly 2:30 left on the clock, the visitors were still within striking distance, but Radnički slammed the door shut. In the last few minutes of the match, the home team netted three goals without reply from Jug, who failed to score any points during this period. This outcome secured a clear-cut win for the home side by five goals. Radnički’s Nikola Jakšić was exceptional, netting 5 goals, while his teammates Strahinja Rašović and Boris Vapenski contributed with 3 goals apiece. For Jug, young left-hander Vlaho Pavlić scored 4 goals, while Spanish import Sergi Cabanas contributed 3. Radnički’s emphatic conclusion to the game secured them victory and a position among the top four, maintaining their pursuit of a spot in the Final Four.
Primorje 8 – 12 Jadran Split
Jadran Split secured an 8–12 away victory against Primorje Erste Bank in Rijeka, although the hosts put up a fight for the win. The youthful squad of Primorje kept the game close in the early stages, ending the first quarter with a tie at 3:3. In the second period, Jadran’s class demonstrated their prowess by scoring five goals and taking an 8:5 lead by halftime. In the third quarter, Primorje mounted a comeback and reduced the deficit to one goal at 7:8; they entered the final quarter trailing 7:9. In the fourth quarter, though, Jadran Split gained a lead. In the final period, the visitors scored three times and allowed just one goal against them, which ensured their four-goal win. Jadran’s defense, with star goalkeeper Marko Bijač at its core, was essential; Bijač recorded 15 saves, thwarting the attempts of Primorje’s shooters. On offense, Jerko Butić was notable for scoring 4 goals for Jadran, with contributions from Luka Bukić (note: actually Zović and Berehulak scored 2 and 3, but maybe mention a couple) and others in a well-rounded attack. There were a few highlights for Primorje, as three distinct players (among them, Matias Brubnjak and Karlo Babić) netted 2 goals apiece. In the end, it was the depth and experience of Jadran Split that proved crucial, as they held on to control in the final minutes to secure another three points in their pursuit of matching the league leaders.
Valis Valjevo 10 – 13 Mladost Zagreb
HAVK Mladost Mladost dominated a game against Valis, securing a 7:5 lead in the third quarter. The home team played outstanding defense, allowing Mladost to maintain their lead. The game ended with Konstantin Harkov, Luka Bukić, Lovre Milo, and Ivan Buljubašić, Andrija Bašić, Matias Biljaka, and Franko Lazić scoring goals.
Rankings following Round 19
- Jadran Herceg Novi – 19 GP, 48 pts
- Novi Beograd – 19 GP, 48 pts
- Jadran Split – 19 GP, 46 pts
- Radnički Kragujevac – 19 GP, 46 pts
- HAVK Mladost – 19 GP, 38 pts
- VK Šabac – 19 GP, 25 pts
- Primorac Kotor – 18 GP, 19 pts
- Jug Dubrovnik – 18 GP, 19 pts
- Crvena Zvezda – 19 GP, 18 points
- Primorje EB Rijeka – 19 GP, 17 pts
- VK Solaris Šibenik – 19 GP, 14 pts
- Valis Valjevo – 19 GP, 1 pt
Jadran HN retains the top position on a head-to-head tiebreak against Novi Beograd, as both contenders are tied at 48 points. The struggle for Final Four spots is fierce, with only a two-point gap between first and third. Jadran Split and Radnički are level with each other right behind the leaders, while Mladost occupies a distant fifth place—well ahead of the mid-table teams but behind the top four. As only a handful of rounds are left, the scene is prepared for an exciting conclusion to the regular season, with the top teams in the league vying for playoff positions.
