Jadran and Budva failed to reach the final four this season, Novljane was even separated by only a goal, but Montenegro is not without a representative in Oradea.
More precisely, there are four of them and they all have ambitions to reach the top of Europe - Boris Zloković and Aleksandar Ivović with Pro Rek, Draško Brguljan as a member of Vaša and Primorje goalkeeper Zdravko Radić.
Of course, anything but the new Pro Reka title would be a great sensation, if you bear in mind that the quality of Italians in the elite competition this season is more pronounced than ever...
The first opponent of Pino Porcija's team is Vašaš (tonight from 18:XNUMX), and two hours later the Croatian teams - Primorje and Mladost - will meet in the second semi-final.
Genoese confident of the title
Pro Reko has been stopped twice in the last three years in the final of this competition - in 2009 Primorac directed a miracle in Rijeka, a year later the Italian team took revenge on Kotorani in Naples, and last year Partizan lifted the trophy in Rome.
It is clear that Rek has had enough of shocks in the Euroleague...
"We are the favorites on paper, but we also have to prove that we are better than all the teams. It won't be easy against Vaša in the semifinals, it's an excellent team, but I believe that everything depends on us. We want to win the title and we will do everything to get there," said Zloković, the center of the Italians.
Pro Reko has six European championship titles (won four from 2003 to 2010), one less than Partizan and Mladost.
The Belgrade giants won Europe last year after 35 years, while Mladost was last champion in 1996.
Brguljan: Everything is possible in one match
Draško Brguljan was a champion with Primorje, then he also played in the final, and now he will try to conquer the Old Continent with Vaša.
The Hungarian representative has something to oppose Rek - there are the brothers Adam and Barnabas Štejnmec, Gergelj Kiš, Miho Bošković, who will return to the South at the end of the season...
"We are completely relieved, we can play relaxed, whatever happens. We won the title in Hungary, fulfilled the goal, but we will do our best to reach the final. After all, surprises happen in the final tournament, Primorac and Partizan have proven that in the past. Everything is possible in one match," said Brguljan, who left Kotor and went to Budapest this summer.
Behind the Montenegrin representative is an excellent season in Vašaš, and after winning the title, he was chosen by the coach as one of the seven best players in the league.
"I am satisfied, everything is great. Am I staying? "It is almost certain that I will play for Vašaš next season as well," Brguljan said.
Radić is convinced: Reko and Primorje are in the final
And Zdravko Radić knows how to conquer Europe - he was a champion with Primorje three years ago.
With Primorje, however, it will be much more difficult, although the experienced goalkeeper sees his team in the final.
"We have youth as a team, I think we are more complete, we play faster water polo. They rely more on centers... I can say that Mladost is the most desirable opponent in the final tournament, because Pro Reko and Vašaš are stronger. I believe we are going to the finals," said Radić, who has no doubts about the second finalist.
"A miracle really needs to happen so that Reko doesn't make it to the finals.
There is no tension, the people of Rijeka travel peacefully in Oradea.
"All teams, except for Reka, are relieved before this tournament. I also think that this is the key to success. It was similar when I became European champion with Primorje," recalls Radić, whose contract with Primorje expires at the end of the season and it is certain that he will leave Kantrida.
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