Radnicki have defended their Serbian championship title after completing a dominant 3-0 sweep over Novi Beograd in the final series.
The Kragujevac-based side defeated Novi Beograd 11-8 in front of their home supporters in Game 3, securing their third national league title overall and underlining their status as the strongest team in Serbia this season.
It was a tense, defensive contest for much of the first half, with saves, blocks and missed chances at both ends of the pool. Novi Beograd led only once, through the opening goal, before later levelling at 2-2, with both of their early goals scored by Dimitrijevic.
Radnicki then took control with a decisive 3-0 run. Vlachopoulos, Andrija Prlainovic and Valik Dadvani all found the net as the hosts moved 5-2 ahead in the 14th minute. Milos Cuk ended Novi Beograd’s goalless spell and added another goal before halftime, cutting the deficit to 5-4 at the break.
Both teams struggled badly with their extra-player chances in the opening half. Radnicki converted just one of seven power-play opportunities, while Novi Beograd managed only one from eight. The visitors created chances, but Radnicki goalkeeper Radoslav Filipovic was outstanding, making 13 saves across the first two periods.
Early in the third quarter, Strahinja Rasovic scored twice in quick succession to restore Radnicki’s three-goal advantage at 7-4. From there, Radnicki’s defence, organised superbly in front of Filipovic, continued to shut down Novi Beograd’s attack.
The teams traded goals before the end of the third period, with Radnicki taking an 8-5 lead into the final quarter. Prlainovic then struck in the first possession of the fourth to make it 9-5, putting the hosts firmly in control.
The decisive moment arrived four minutes from time, when 41-year-old Dusko Pijetlovic converted a man-up chance to make it 11-6. At that point, Novi Beograd had no way back.
Both sides improved their power-play numbers slightly by full time, but still finished at just 3/15 with the extra player. In the end, Radnicki’s action shooting, defensive discipline and Filipovic’s goalkeeping made the difference.
For Radnicki, Rasovic and Prlainovic led the scoring with three goals each, while Milos Cuk also scored three for Novi Beograd.
Result
2026 Serbian League, Final, Game 3
Radnicki 11-8 Novi Beograd
(3-2, 2-2, 3-1, 3-3)
Radnicki win the final series 3-0.
Scorers
Radnicki: S. Rasovic 3, Prlainovic 3, N. Jaksic 1, Vlachopoulos 1, Dadvani 1, Dedovic 1, Pijetlovic 1.
Novi Beograd Tehnomanija: Cuk 3, Urosevic 2, Dimitrijevic 2, Martinovic 1.
Serbian champions since 2007
Partizan – 10
Crvena Zvezda – 2
Novi Beograd – 3
Radnicki – 3
Sabac – 1