Budva volleyball players defend the Cup trophy with a major upset

The men's final of the Montenegrin Cup had less uncertainty than the women's - Budva continued its dominance and after a turnaround defeated Buducnost 3:1 (25:27, 25:23, 25:22, 25:14).

It seemed that the Buducnost volleyball players were extra motivated after the first women's volleyball cup, as they won the first set of the final in Podgorica and looked great, but Budva showed all its quality and won the third derby in a row.

After managing to tie the game after a great fight at 25:23, then turn it around at 25:22, Budva was dominant in the fourth set and reached the eighth tied Cup. There was no drama in the fourth set, Budva gained a big advantage early on and easily settled the question of the winner.

The defending champions were led to their first trophy of the season by captain Balša Radunović with 17 points, 16 by point guard Lazar Dodić, and even 11, with significant minutes in the final two sets, by U18 national team member Vuk Stanojević.

For Buducnost, Aleksa Nikolić was the most efficient with 13 points, captain Jovan Delić scored 12, and Marko Sinđelić scored 11.

This was the second cup match between Budva and Buducnost this season – after the Montenegrin Super Cup, which went to Buducnost, they also met in the Cup final, and in the EPCG Super League both teams reached the semi-finals.

The trophy was presented to the Cup winner and Budva captain Balša Radunović by the President of the Volleyball Association of Montenegro (OSCG), Nikola Kažić.

The award for MVP of the finals was presented to Budva's serve receiver, Balša Radunović, by the head coach of the Montenegrin men's national team, Ivica Jevtić.

Gold medals were awarded to members of the Budva team and coaching staff by OSCG Board member Nevena Terzić and OSCG Secretary General Ivan Bošković.

Silver medals were presented to the Buducnost volleyball players and members of the coaching staff by OSCG Board of Directors member Petar Vukčević and OSCG Men's Selection Director Ivan Ječmenica.

The plaque was presented to the finalist, OK Budva, and the captain of the Podgorica team, Jovan Delić, by the President of the Assembly of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, Milan Franović.

The awards to the officials of the men's final, judges Jelena Mitrović and Sonja Simonovska, as well as supervisor Anka Ivanović, were presented by the director of the women's representative selections of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, Ksenija Božović.