The tournament was held at the Sports Centre Borik, near the river Vrbas, but this time without snow. This was the first time we came here in our full composition, of course, if not counting the first participation when we were still greenhorns.
The team is in a good condition, with a series of victories behind and a good opportunity to achieve something more than on our previous five appearances. It is also clear that we should have some luck to qualify in this competition. From the organizer's point of view, it is essential that the tournament is held and it's tradition continues in spite of all the problems. The increase of the number of teams compared to the previous year comes as the icing on the cake.
Matches were played in one terrain, alternating one match from Group A and B, and so these are arranged chronologically in this review.
OKI "Banja Luka" - OKI "Kneževo" 2:1 (25:18, 23:25,15:12)
The team from the Kneževo played excellent in the field and so they created a serious problem to the hosts. It turned out that they had bad luck in the game, as well as with inscriptions on their backs.
OKI "Doboj" - OKI "Feniks" 2:0 (25:18, 25:16)
It was a re-match of two coaches who work together in national team. It passed in the superior play of Doboj and our frequent errors. They played much faster than we do, without oscillations and they took the certain victory. Our best game period we showed in the first half of the second set, when we maintained the results at equal level.
After these two matches the Tournament was officialy opened by Mr. Novak Grbić.
SDI "Hrabri" - OKI "Banja Luka" 0:2 (14:25, 22:25)
The tournament was soon continued as planned. Hrabri were solid, but the hosts were relaxed and just good enough.
IOK "Zavidovići" - OKI "Doboj" 0:2 (14:25,11:25)
A result that surprised us, but the balance of forces on terrain was exactly like that. Zavidovići were in gaming crisis, and Doboj seize it in the game and simply ran over them. This way they qualified for the finals.
OKI "Kneževo" - SDI "Hrabri" 2:0 (25:20, 25:18)
Kneževo played similar game like the 1st one, but this time it was enough to win over the Hrabri.
OKI "Feniks" - IOK "Zavidovići" 0:2 (19:25, 26:28)
Zavidovići played slightly slower than our mutual opponents in the group. Maybe in their ranks was not everything in place, and we managed to consolidate and to provide a very good game. We can only regret the unused pair of set points in the second set and so remained our consolation prizes, but we'll get to that in the end of this text.
1. OKI "Banja Luka" 2 0 4:1 4 2. OKI "Kneževo" 1 1 3:2 3 3. SDI "Hrabri" 0 2 0:4 0
1. OKI "Doboj" 2 0 4:0 4 2. IOK "Zavidovići" 1 1 2:2 2 3. OKI "Feniks" 0 2 0:4 0
There wasn't played a match for the fifth place according schedule, but the placement is determined on the basis of a set and point ratio. So, several points in our favor were enough to be in front of the Hrabri, who are in the 45th jubilee year of existence.
OKI "Kneževo" - IOK "Zavidovići" 2:1 (23:25,25:19,15:13)
I can hardly judge who was really better here. Refereeing insistence on details with the absence of the substance was already seen in several previous games, and in this game it culminated. No one is glad when it comes to this kind of development: not a winner, certainly not the defeated one, not the audience, and especially not the organizers. If it's any comfort, we feel a little bit easier seeing that something like this is going on a tournament with much longer tradition than ours. In the end of the day, it's just a tournament, so disagreements will be overcome and it will grow in a friendship, but we all must work a lot in order to avoid such situations. Finally, if any of these two teams has won, a victory would be deserved.
OKI "Banja Luka"- OKI "Doboj" 2:1 (25:11,20:25,15:07)
In the finals Banja Luka started furiously, but faltered in the second set. Doboj then came to their game level, they showed a great desire for victory, they were progressing well, and even they had the advantage in the deciding set. However, after a timeout in the middle of the 3rd set, things suddenly turned in a favor of hosts. Afterward they were focused on defense from the best player in Doboj team (and the tournament's MVP), which was stopped several times and that was a way without return. Banja Luka players have extended the series up to the end of match, and certainly won the third set and the tournament. Congratulations!
Slaviša refereed this, and other games, as the best example to his colleagues.
Upper row: Valter, Sale, Nikola, Željko, Igor, Milanče, Baja
Lower row: Mile, Dragoslav, Gile, Dane, Zoka
Awarding of trophies and awards took place at the restaurant of motel "MIG", with the dinner and socializing of teams.
MVP of the tournament, "little" Aca from Doboj
We didn't manage to squeeze in the fight for medals, but we have provided a solid games, especially the second one. But now, how should I explain to you that we suffered two defeats in two games and we came back with two Cups? No lies, no deceptions?!
The first is due to the carre of the host, who made sure that everyone leave to home with at least some memory, so they assign a trophy for each placement. Another cup we have earned during the previous season in the League of R.Srpska and now it was just a nice opportunity to be officially handed to us.
Concerning the photos, there are a few that brings our "copyright" (watermark), but the major number are mostly borrowed from "the man for all", among the hosts: Mirko Reljić, inconspicuous and modest, but always present and diligent, the organizer for the highest mark, here was in the role of the photographer, as well. Thank you!
