A1 Mens6 October 2023
Euro Cup: Trieste travels to Montenegro for a clash with Primorac Kotor
The match is scheduled for Saturday, October 6th at 6:00 PM and will be streamed live on the Len European Aquatics YouTube channel. Ivan Buljubasic is back in action. Bettini says, "We'll give it our all, with respect for our opponents but without any fear."
A highly anticipated challenge awaits. The men's Euro Cup group stage kicks off, and on Saturday, October 7th, Pallanuoto Trieste will take on Vpk Primorac. The match will be held at the "Zoran Dzimi Gopcevic" pool in Kotor, starting at 6:00 PM. You can watch it live on the Len European Aquatics YouTube channel, with real-time play-by-play coverage provided by Microplustiming.
After a five-game winning streak, it's time for the Montenegro journey. The Samer & Co. Shipping-sponsored team enters the tough Group D (with Ortigia Siracusa and Panionios as the other competitors) in good form. Daniele Bettini will finally have the valuable assets of Ivan Buljubasic, who has been sidelined for a couple of weeks, and Michele Mezzarobba at his disposal. The experienced Croatian defender has nearly fully recovered from his hand injury, while the Trieste striker is serving a three-game suspension in the domestic league but can be used in Europe. The match against Primorac poses several challenges, including the strength of an internationally renowned team and the traditionally passionate atmosphere in the region. "We're excited to play these types of matches," explains the coach. "The Euro Cup format is very appealing and presents us with a formidable opponent. They are a strong and well-organized team with a lot of technical quality and international experience. We are finally at full strength, although not yet at 100% physical condition. We will give it our best, respecting Primorac but without any reverential fear, knowing that there are three crucial points at stake in the qualification race."
The team coached by Zoran Maslovar is coming off the Champions League preliminary round, where they finished fourth behind An Brescia, Radnicki Kragujevac, and Noisy Le Sec. Their performance in the first round of the Euro Cup was significantly better, with victories over Waspo Hannover (11-7), Peristeriou (12-6), Panatinaikos (8-7), and Terrassa (14-12 in penalties), securing them the top spot in their group. All eyes will be on the former player Nemanja Vico, who played for Pallanuoto Trieste from 2017 to 2021. The standout player for Primorac is undoubtedly the veteran Drasko Brguljan, a silver medalist at the World Championships and a European gold medalist with Montenegro, who also won the last edition of the Euro Cup with Vasas.
After a five-game winning streak, it's time for the Montenegro journey. The Samer & Co. Shipping-sponsored team enters the tough Group D (with Ortigia Siracusa and Panionios as the other competitors) in good form. Daniele Bettini will finally have the valuable assets of Ivan Buljubasic, who has been sidelined for a couple of weeks, and Michele Mezzarobba at his disposal. The experienced Croatian defender has nearly fully recovered from his hand injury, while the Trieste striker is serving a three-game suspension in the domestic league but can be used in Europe. The match against Primorac poses several challenges, including the strength of an internationally renowned team and the traditionally passionate atmosphere in the region. "We're excited to play these types of matches," explains the coach. "The Euro Cup format is very appealing and presents us with a formidable opponent. They are a strong and well-organized team with a lot of technical quality and international experience. We are finally at full strength, although not yet at 100% physical condition. We will give it our best, respecting Primorac but without any reverential fear, knowing that there are three crucial points at stake in the qualification race."
The team coached by Zoran Maslovar is coming off the Champions League preliminary round, where they finished fourth behind An Brescia, Radnicki Kragujevac, and Noisy Le Sec. Their performance in the first round of the Euro Cup was significantly better, with victories over Waspo Hannover (11-7), Peristeriou (12-6), Panatinaikos (8-7), and Terrassa (14-12 in penalties), securing them the top spot in their group. All eyes will be on the former player Nemanja Vico, who played for Pallanuoto Trieste from 2017 to 2021. The standout player for Primorac is undoubtedly the veteran Drasko Brguljan, a silver medalist at the World Championships and a European gold medalist with Montenegro, who also won the last edition of the Euro Cup with Vasas.
