The first Montenegrin volleyball derby on the international stage went to Budućnost!
The team from Podgorlje defeated the team from Budva 3:1 in sets (27:25, 25:22, 23:25, 27:25) in a real spectacle at the Mediterranean Sports Center in Budva, as part of the regional MEVZA league.
After more than two hours of fighting, in a match filled with twists and turns, Dejan Radić's men defeated their big rival for the second time this season (after the match for the trophy in the domestic Super Cup) and recorded their second victory in the regional competition.
Budva had a slight advantage in the first half of the game and was the first to reach the set point (24:22), but Buducnost fought back, managed to tie the game with a series of points, and then turned the tables and won the opening set with 27:25.
A similar scenario was seen in the rest of the game. Although the current champions of Montenegro kept their lead, Buducnost was calmer in the final minutes. After leading 18:15, Miljan Boskovic's team came back to 18:18. The team from Podgorica played more concentrated in the final minutes, Jovan Delic and his teammates took advantage of the first set point and took a 2:0 lead (25:22).
The third set brought a new dose of drama and excellent play from both teams. Budva took control of the score midway through the set, leading 22:18, and although Buducnost managed to reach the point of the deficit (24:23), Vukašin Cimbaljević brought the set to his team with a great point - 25:23 and a comeback to 2:1.
The drama continued in the fourth set. Budva had a five-point lead (16:11), but Buducnost found a way to come back and tie the game at 20:20, and then reach the match point (24:22). Budva saved one, but not the other, and the Montenegrin Super Cup winner triumphed 27:25 and celebrated with a final score of 3:1.
Dejan Radić's team was led to victory by Marko Vukašinović with 19 points, Jovan Delić with 18, Marko Sinđelić with 16 and Luka Lojić with 13. Vukašin Cimbaljević was the most efficient player for Budva with an impressive 22 points, while Balša Radunović and Lazar Dodić scored 18 and 16 points, respectively.
After the first MEVZA League tournament, both Montenegrin representatives have two victories each - in addition to Budva, Buducnost also defeated Slovenian Maribor with the maximum score, while Budva was better than Maribor (3:2) and MAV Elora (3:1).
Montenegrin clubs now face European challenges in the CEV Challenge Cup. Budva will host Austria's VC Strosen on November 11 at the Mediterranean Sports Center (18 p.m.), while Budućnost will host Maribor on November 12 and 13 at the Verde Hall in a two-legged tie that will be played in Podgorica by agreement between the clubs.
Bonus video:
