After two weeks in which events outside the pool dominated attention in Serbian water polo, the playoff finals began with a commanding statement from Radnicki.
Radnicki defeated Novi Beograd 15-10 in Kragujevac in the opening match of the best-of-five Serbian League final series, taking a 1-0 lead against their fierce rivals.
Both teams arrived in the final shortly after their hopes of success on the European stage had been extinguished, but it was Radnicki who responded more convincingly. The hosts recovered from a slow start, overturning an early 4-1 deficit before taking control late in the first quarter and building a decisive lead by halftime.
Novi Beograd, eliminated from the Champions League just three days earlier, began sharply. The visitors scored with three consecutive attacks to move 3-0 ahead by the fourth minute, before extending their advantage to 4-1 shortly after.
Radnicki, however, quickly settled into the match. The hosts fought back to level the score at 5-5 before the first break, then dominated the second quarter. Viktor Rasovic gave Radnicki the lead at the start of the period, before Boris Vapenski doubled the advantage at 7-5.
Late in the quarter, Nikola Dedovic stretched the margin to 9-6, putting Radnicki firmly on the right track. Dedovic appeared to add another goal in the final minute of the half, but it was ruled out after the possession clock had expired.
Novi Beograd briefly reduced the gap through Trtovic, who made it 9-7, but Radnicki’s defensive intensity continued to provide the platform for their attack. Midway through the third period, Viktor Rasovic struck from a counterattack to make it 11-7, before Valiko Dadvani extended the lead to 12-7.
After Radnicki’s 3-0 run, Novi Beograd changed goalkeepers, with Gavrilovic replacing Glusac. Lukic, who finished as Novi Beograd’s top scorer, pulled one back with his fourth goal, but Vapenski responded immediately to restore Radnicki’s five-goal cushion at 13-8.
The hosts managed the final quarter well, slowing the tempo in attack while remaining strong defensively. Goalkeeper Radoslav Filipovic was central to that control, finishing the match with 12 saves.
Strahinja Rasovic sealed Radnicki’s victory, scoring the final goal with 77 seconds remaining.
The second match of the series will be played in Belgrade on May 25.
2026 Serbian League, playoffs, final — Game 1
Radnicki – Novi Beograd Tehnomanija 15-10
Quarters: 5-5, 4-1, 4-2, 2-2
Radnicki scorers: V. Rasovic 3, N. Jaksic 2, Vapenski 2, Dedovic 2, S. Rasovic 2, Randjelovic 1, Prlainovic 1, Pijetlovic 1, Dadvani 1.
Novi Beograd scorers: Lukic 4, Cuk 2, Pljevancic 1, Sulc 1, Trtovic 1, Martinovic 1.
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