Primorac recorded a convincing and valuable 20:12 victory over Jadran Herceg Novi in the 13th round of the Premier League.
With this win, the Kotor-based team secured its spot as the second team to qualify for the Final Four. Additionally, the points won in the Premier League will be carried over to the Montenegrin Championships. Since Primorac defeated Jadran in both Premier League matches this season, it will have a six-point advantage ahead of its biggest rival before the championship begins.
The second derby of the round was supposed to be played in Sabac, between Sabac and Novi Beograd. However, the visiting team did not show up. Novi Beograd announced a few days ago that it was withdrawing from the league. So the final decision on this match will be made by the VRL competition bodies. It’s almost certain that Sabac will be awarded a win with a technical score. In that case, the battle for spots at the Final Four will be over.
Radnicki easily beat Crvena Zvezda 15:6.
Partizan defeated Buducnost in the most exciting game of the round, 16:14, and climbed to 6th position.
2026 Premier VRL League, Round 13
(quarters 3:4, 5:3, 7:3, 5:2)
Jadran got off to an excellent start, taking a 4:1 lead in the first six minutes. Primorac cut the deficit until the end of the first quarter. Kholod doubled Jadran’s lead in the visitors’ first possession in the second quarter. However, shortly after, the hosts imposed their rhythm. Primorac netted three quick goals to go ahead – 6:5. Jadran leveled at 6:6. But Primorac controlled everything in the pool. Deep into the second period, the hosts earned a 2-goal lead for the first time.
The teams traded goals until the early stages of the third quarter, when Merkulov scored the 8th goal for Jadran (8:9). Following that, a crucial interval of the game started. By the end of this period, Primorac scored seven goals and conceded only two, establishing a 15:10 lead before the final quarter.
Jadran couldn’t find its way back. Very motivated players on the home side continued to dominate in the fourth period and reached an 8-goal margin.
Marko Mrsic and Yusuke Inaba led the hosts’ attack with four goals each. Djuro Radovic and Balsa Vuckovic added three each. Janovic, Gojkovic, Kholod and Valera netted two goals each for Jadran.
(quarters 1:4, 3:3, 0:4, 2:4)
As expected, Radnicki dictated the pace from the beginning. After the first 4:1 quarter, the visitors opened the second period with two goals, and they were 6:1 up already in the 11th minute. Crvena Zvezda cut the deficit to three goals before the middle break. Radnicki started into the second half strongly, with a 5:0 run, and secured a convincing win. Radnicki’s Valiko Dadvani was the top scorer, with three goals.
UPDATE, Wednesday, March 11
The start of the match between Partizan and Buducnost did not suggest an exciting, uncertain ending. The Black and Whites led 4:0 in the sixth minute, and 5:1 at the beginning of the second quarter. However, Buducnost managed to get back into the match and tied the score at 6:6 on its first possession of the second half. Soon after at 7:7. Partizan regained a solid lead (10:7) with a 3:0 run in the minute and a half, and entered the final period with a two-goal advantage (11:9). However, Stevovic scored two goals in the 25th minute to tie the game at 11:11. Partizan responded with two goals. Still, the visitors equalized again, first at 13:13, and then at 14:14 in the 28th minute. However, in the last four minutes, Partizan kept its clean sheet and scored two goals, winning 16:14.
Miljan Djokanovic was the top scorer for Partizan with four goals, while Marko Boskovic and David Stevovic scored three each for Buducnost.
Partizan climbed to sixth place, and it is almost certain to remain there after the final round. The Black and Whites are currently tied on points with Crvena Zvezda, and they had a better head-to-head scre.. In the 14th round, both clubs have tough away games – Partizan against Radnički, and Crvena Zvezda against Jadran, so it is difficult to expect them to get any points.
- Radnicki 13 – 34
- Primorac 13 – 28
- Jadran m:tel 13 – 25
- Novi Beograd Tehnomanija 12 – 23
- Sabac Elixir 12 – 22
- Partizan 13 – 9
- Crvena Zvezda 13 – 9
- Buducnost One 12 – 3
Visit the Premier League’s page on Total Waterpolo Arena for the live scores, schedule and standings.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: total-waterpolo.com
