Conference Cup Men: All 10 tickets to next phase confirmed after action-packed final day

VK Partizan Belgrade were among the 10 teams celebrating reaching the next phase of the men’s Conference Cup after Qualification Round I concluded on Sunday. The young Serbians surprised the already-qualified De Akker Team to leapfrog EVK Zaibas in Group D, while CN Posillipo, Endo Plus Service Honved, Panionios GSS, CN Tenerife Echeyde, VK Mornar Split, Sete Natation, Solartradex CN Mataro and VK Primorje Erste Bank also progress. For the clubs from nations ranked 13th or below – VK Banja Luka, Vitoria Sport Clube, Zaibas and Galatasaray SK – they may have been eliminated, but their European seasons will now continue in the Challenger Cup.

2025/26 Conference Cup Men
Qualification Round I, Day 3
Sunday 9 November 2025

Group A
(Utrecht, NED)

Endo Plus Service Honved (HUN) 15-8 AC PAOK (GRE)
UZSC Utrecht (NED) 10-18 CN Posillipo (ITA)

Standings: 1. Posillipo 8pts, 2. Honved 7pts, 3. PAOK 3pts, 4. Utrecht 0pts

Group B
(Nea Smyrni, GRE)

White Sharks Hannover (GER) 11-22 CN Tenerife Echeyde (ESP)
Panionios GSS (GRE) 16-13 PVK Budva Budvanska Rivijera (MNE)

Standings: 1. Panionios 9pts, 2. Tenerife 5pts, 3. Budva 4pts, 4. Hannover 0pts

Group C
(Split, CRO)

VK Mornar Split (CRO) 24-4 VK Banja Luka (BIH)
Vitoria Sport Clube (POR) 8-20 Sete Natation (FRA)

Standings: 1. Mornar 9pts, 2. Sete 6pts, 3. Vitoria 3pts, 4. Banja Luka 0pts

Group D
(Belgrade, SRB)

SG Neukolln Berlin (GER) 12-16 EVK Zaibas (LTU)
VK Partizan Belgrade (SRB) 13-11 De Akker Team (ITA)

Standings: 1. De Akker 6pts, 2. Partizan 6pts, 3. Zaibas 6pts, 4. Neukolln 0pts

Group E
(Rijeka, CRO)

VK Primorje Erste Bank (CRO) 23-11 Solartradex CN Mataro (ESP)

Standings: 1. Primorje 6pts, 2. Mataro 3pts, 3. Galatasaray 0pts

Group A
(Utrecht, NED)

Endo Plus Service Honved (HUN) 15-8 AC PAOK (GRE)

Endo Plus Service Honved secured their ticket to the next round with a convincing 15-8 victory against AC PAOK on Sunday morning.

The Greeks’ last roll of the dice saw them throw everything at the Hungarians in the opening eight minutes, which they drew 4-4, but after that they weren’t able to keep up.

Honved dominated the second quarter, building a 9-5 advantage by half-time, and when they stretched their lead to 12-7 at the end of the third, there was no way back for PAOK.

Nikola Moskov and Lazar Vickovic were the standout performers, scoring 10 of Honved’s 15 goals between them – five each.

UZSC Utrecht (NED) 10-18 CN Posillipo (ITA)

CN Posillipo recovered from a slow start against UZSC Utrecht to make it three wins from three and claim top spot in the group.

The hosts edged the early exchanges, leading 3-2 after the first quarter and 4-3 midway through the second, but this sparked Posillipo into life.

Finding their rhythm, the three-time European champions fired in five unanswered goals to take a 4-8 lead early in the third.

Utrecht kept battling, coming back to within two on three occasions (at 7-9, 8-10 and 9-11 before the fourth), but that was as close as they got, as the Italians outclassed them in the final quarter 1-7 to finish as clear winners.

Group B
(Nea Smyrni, GRE)

White Sharks Hannover (GER) 11-22 CN Tenerife Echeyde (ESP)

CN Tenerife Echeyde went into their final clash with White Sharks Hannover knowing they needed a win to put pressure on Budva and keep their qualification hopes alive.

In the first half, their task looked a tough one, as the young and energetic Germans swarmed all over them, and Hannover even levelled the scores at 9-9 shortly before half-time.

Tenerife’s Alejandro Andion converted a penalty to make it 10-9 just before the long break, and from there the Spaniards began to pull away.

After scoring nine in the opening two quarters, Hannover faded and could manage only two more in the final 16 minutes, while Tenerife added 12 – six in each period – to finish comfortable winners.

American Luis Araya was once again the standout star for Tenerife, scoring seven goals to take his weekend tally to an impressive 16.

Panionios GSS (GRE) 16-13 PVK Budva Budvanska Rivijera (MNE)

After keeping a close eye on the earlier fixture, PVK Budva Budvanska Rivijera knew they needed to upset the hosts and win if they wanted to move back above Tenerife into the qualification spots.

Their task only got harder as they fell 6-4 behind after an explosive first quarter, which included Marko Milic having his penalty saved by Aussie star Nic Porter, and the gap widened in the second as Panionios GSS led 10-7 at half-time.

With the Greeks already qualified, Budva had extra motivation and came roaring back after the long break, with Georgios Kalaitzis scoring twice to bring them within one at 10-9.

Panionios were determined to finish on a high, however, and Ioannis Papakos and captain Alexandros Gounas – who ended the afternoon with a six-goal haul – quickly ended Budva’s momentum, scoring one each to regain control at 12-9.

The Montenegrins had chances to close the gap but missed three man-up opportunities (including one six-on-four) in the third, and the Greeks held firm in the fourth to close out the game.

Group C
(Split, CRO)

Vitoria Sport Clube (POR) 8-20 Sete Natation (FRA)

Sete Natation stormed into the next round with a comprehensive victory over Vitoria Sport Clube, who will now continue their European campaign in the Challenger Cup.

The stubborn French defence proved impenetrable for Vitoria in the first half, as Sete built a wall in front of goalkeeper Anthony Rossi and held firm – even surviving several man-down situations – while their attack fired in eight at the other end.

Vitoria finally broke through 19 seconds into the third quarter and managed to add three more, but their defence continued to falter, conceding nine to head into the final period trailing 4-17.

The last quarter ended 4-3 to Vitoria, but the game was long since decided, as Sete finished the weekend with a remarkable 72 goals across three matches – eight more than second highest scorers Mornar (64).

VK Mornar Split (CRO) 24-4 VK Banja Luka (BIH)

VK Banja Luka suffered a third successive heavy defeat to finish bottom of the group with very little to show for their efforts (just 14 goals scored and 84 conceded), apart from valuable experience ahead of their Challenger Cup campaign.

In contrast, VK Mornar Split finished the weekend in perfect fashion, gaining maximum points after outclassing the Bosnians from the opening buzzer.

The hosts dished out more harsh lessons to Banja Luka, racing to a 9-0 lead by half-time and winning the last two quarters 6-2 and 9-2.

Luka Penava led the way for the hosts with five goals, while Bruno Hrvatic, Ferdinand Buselic, and Nardo Dragas all scored four each..

Group D
(Belgrade, SRB)

SG Neukolln Berlin (GER) 12-16 EVK Zaibas (LTU)

Last season’s Challenger Cup runners-up, EVK Zaibas, proved they were ready for the step up to the Conference Cup by winning their second game of the weekend against SG Neukolln Berlin.

The early start on Sunday seemed to suit the Lithuanians, who blew the Germans away in the first two quarters, racing into a 4-11 lead by half-time.

With the game firmly under control, Neukolln finally found some joy in the third period, winning it 5-2, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. Zaibas simply stepped up a gear again after the gap closed to 10-13 early in the fourth.

Aurimas Jonkus starred for Zaibas with four goals, while captain Jan Bakulo also impressed, scoring a hat-trick.

Despite their second victory, their fate still wasn’t confirmed at that point, and they faced an agonising wait – knowing VK Partizan Belgrade could still catch them if they beat De Akker Team later…

VK Partizan Belgrade (SRB) 13-11 De Akker Team (ITA)

De Akker Team already had one foot in the next round after winning their opening two games, and knew that as long as they avoided a heavy defeat to VK Partizan Belgrade on the final day, they would advance safely.

In the end, the Italians lost by only two, which was enough to see them progress, though they’ll head back to Bologna slightly disappointed to have ended the weekend with a defeat.

For the young hosts, the 13-11 victory – inspired by Miljan Djokanovic’s five goals – meant everything, lifting them into the second qualification spot above Zaibas on goal difference.

After a tight 1-1 first quarter, Partizan showed their intent with a stunning 3-0 burst early in the second and they never relinquished control from there, despite De Akker staying close throughout.

Group E
(Rijeka, CRO)

VK Primorje Erste Bank (CRO) 23-11 Solartradex CN Mataro (ESP)

As both teams had already secured their ticket to the next round, VK Primorje Erste Bank and Solartradex CN Mataro clashed to decide the only remaining question – who would take the top spot in the group.

Primorje were always the favourites and demonstrated their dominance by overpowering their opponents in every department.

A devastating 6-1 first quarter set the tone, and although the Spaniards fared better in the middle two quarters (6-5, 4-4), they were powerless to stop Primorje in the fourth, as the hosts put their foot back on the gas and finished the game with another commanding 7-1 blast.

Marko Radulovic shone once again for Primorje, adding eight goals to the five he scored against Galatasaray on day two.

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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics

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