HaBaWaBa 2026: The Derby Smiles on Buducnost, New U11 Champions
The team from Podgorica defeats Primorac in an all-Montenegrin final to clinch its first title in Lignano. Tomorrow U13s wil get to the Festival
In 2010, a selection from Montenegro won the U11 tournament in the 3rd edition of the HaBaWaBa International Festival. Sixteen years later, Buducnost Podgorica brings the title back across the Adriatic, decisively winning the derby against fellow countrymen Primorac Kotor, coached by former Slavic water polo champion Veljko Uskokovic.
IIn the semifinals, Buducnost and Primorac had defeated Egypt's Gezira and Italian Posillipo Coccodrilli respectively, confirming what had been buzzing from pool to pool all week at the Bella Italia & EFA Village: that the two Montenegrin teams were the heavy favorites. The Neapolitan team then finished in 3rd place thanks to an 11-9 victory in the third-place final.
The clash between compatriots, however, saw Buducnost coached by Aleksandar Aleksic dominate from the first to the final minute, securing a decisive 18-11 victory. This brings immense satisfaction to the capital city's team, becoming champions in their very first appearance at HaBaWaBa.
Following the conclusion of the tournaments, the closing ceremony for the first week of the HaBaWaBa International Festival kicked off at 8:30 PM. In addition to the podium finishers, all 83 teams participating in the U9 and U11 tournaments will be honored during the evening.Special recognition will also go to the Golden Babies Ema Zukic and Francesco Bai, as well as the winners of the Fair Play Trophy—an award given by HaBaWaBa referees to the most disciplined teams: Singapore's Pacer Academy in the U9 category and Italian Pallanuoto Lucca in the U11s.
The Festival will continue tomorrow and run until June 28, as the U9 and U11 teams make way for the squads competing in the girls' and mixed U13 tournaments.
The U11 champions of PVK Buducnost: Milovan Rasovic, Andrija Vujisic, Petar Rakocevic, Sergej Nikolic, Djordje Scekic, Dimitrije Popovic, Damijan Raicevic, Luka Cekic, Kosta Smolovic, Viktor Radovic, Sava Konstantinovic, Jovan Krakovic, Mihailo Rudic. Coach: Aleksandar Aleksic.
IIn the semifinals, Buducnost and Primorac had defeated Egypt's Gezira and Italian Posillipo Coccodrilli respectively, confirming what had been buzzing from pool to pool all week at the Bella Italia & EFA Village: that the two Montenegrin teams were the heavy favorites. The Neapolitan team then finished in 3rd place thanks to an 11-9 victory in the third-place final.
The clash between compatriots, however, saw Buducnost coached by Aleksandar Aleksic dominate from the first to the final minute, securing a decisive 18-11 victory. This brings immense satisfaction to the capital city's team, becoming champions in their very first appearance at HaBaWaBa.
Following the conclusion of the tournaments, the closing ceremony for the first week of the HaBaWaBa International Festival kicked off at 8:30 PM. In addition to the podium finishers, all 83 teams participating in the U9 and U11 tournaments will be honored during the evening.Special recognition will also go to the Golden Babies Ema Zukic and Francesco Bai, as well as the winners of the Fair Play Trophy—an award given by HaBaWaBa referees to the most disciplined teams: Singapore's Pacer Academy in the U9 category and Italian Pallanuoto Lucca in the U11s.
The Festival will continue tomorrow and run until June 28, as the U9 and U11 teams make way for the squads competing in the girls' and mixed U13 tournaments.
The U11 champions of PVK Buducnost: Milovan Rasovic, Andrija Vujisic, Petar Rakocevic, Sergej Nikolic, Djordje Scekic, Dimitrije Popovic, Damijan Raicevic, Luka Cekic, Kosta Smolovic, Viktor Radovic, Sava Konstantinovic, Jovan Krakovic, Mihailo Rudic. Coach: Aleksandar Aleksic.
HABAWABA 2026 - U9 & U11 FINAL CLASSIFICATION
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