Game Day 9 was unlucky for Slovenian teams. They all suffered from illness and injuries. Most problems it caused to Koper, that had to play without three players. Olimpija used their defeat to equalize on points and jumped on second place. Olimpija is still in chances for first place after regular season. ASV Wien secured top four position also theoreticaly, now they will fight for third position. But all teams for final four are already known - Branik, Olimpija, Koper and ASV Wien. Wed are still waiting to find out semi-final pairs.
Koper had to come to Vienna without their center-forwards Nejc Potočnik and Tugo Volčič and their best scorer Simon Berce, who were ill. Without them, Koper played dinamic waterpolo, with lots of swimming. Result was manny man up chances, but in first half they used only one out of six. Experienced Serbs and Croats in the team from Vienna, on the other side used bad day for Kopers goalkeeper Luka Gerzentič, and scoring from all positions. Spectators saw excellent performance from Uroš Smolnik, he scored six goals, and Marko Draganič, who hit the net five times.
With winning in home swimming-pool Olimpija jumped on second place. Dragons had to play without their first center-forward David Kecman who only sit on the bench. But despite of that, difference was obvious and game was decided after two periods. 
As expected finished also game in Trieste. Leader of the league Branik came in Trieste without first goalkeeper Aleš Manfreda, who suffered knee injury. He was replaced by Marko Mitrovič, who did his job very well. Most excitement was in second period. Maribor was already in comfortable lead with 5:2 but Trieste found was to equalize. Not for long, because before break Branik lead again (6:5). After they stopped Aaron Giorgi, Branik escaped on three goals advantage again. Miha Šmarčan and Andrija Šulič took care that points went to Maribor safely.

Grega Košir

Results:

► Olimpija (Slovenia) – WBC Tirol (Austria) 14:8 (5:1, 2:1, 4:3, 3:3)
Scorers for Olimpija: A. Verač 4, B. Verač 3, Gotovac 2, Brnjac 2, Ju. Škof 1, Merlak 1, Puš 1.
Scorers for WBC Tirol: Hornak 4, Hengl 2, Bundschun 1, Niklanovič 1.

► ASV Wien (Austria) – Koper (Slovenia) 16:13 (5:3, 5:1, 4:5, 2:4)
Scorers for ASV: Draganič 5, Rukavina 2, Schneider 2, Grabič 2, Markovič 2, Kajmak 2, Mijič 1.
Scorers for Koper: Smolnik 6, Kavčič 2, Čeklič 2, Pucer 2, Crnica 1.

► Pallanuoto Trieste (Italy) – Branik (Slovenia) 9:13 (2:4, 3:2, 1:2, 3:5)
Scorers for Trieste: Giorgi 2, Vampa 2, Planinšek 2, Giacomini 2, Polo 1.
Scorers for Branik: Šmarčan 5, Šulič 3, Štuhec 2, Suhadolnik 2, Ul 1.

First year of International Alpe Adria Waterpolo League is comming to its show down quickly. On January 26th and 27th will Final Four take place. League office decided for the first Final Four to be hosted by Pristan swimming-pool in Maribor. For the first title will compete Branik and Koper that are already qualified and probably Olimpija and ASV Wien.
There are two Game Days and some postponed games still to play. On the top of the table are Branik and Koper withe the same points. Branik, with game less played, is on the way to be number one before Play-off. Both of them already secured Final Four apperance. On third place is Olimpija. According to the schedule, this place is reserved for them also at the end. Only black scenary for Olimpija is to loose all three games and ASW Tirol win all four. Bet remember, Tirol will still play twice with Olimpija and once with Branik and Koper. So, most likely fourth place will go to ASV Wien. Threat for them is Trieste. If team from Italy wins twice and ASV looses twice, last game of the regular season between those two teams will decide last ticket for Final Four.
A lot of action still to come in Alpe Adria League! Follow it!

Grega Košir

In postponed game of 2nd Game Day of the League best Austrian teams played for the second time. Once again celebrated team from Austrian capital, that managed to win even higher than in first game in their swimming pool. Woth this success ASV opened door for final four widely.
Smal playfield of indoor pooll in Innsbruck allowed high number of goals. Home team is used for that kind of play. But also Vienna players get the feeling soon. Game decided better technical skills of ASV players and their better shooting. With this success ASV Wien will probably be the one, who is going to oposite three Slovenian teams in final four.

Grega Košir

Result:

► WBC Tirol (Austria) – ASV Wien (Austria) 12:16 (2:4, 4:4, 4:5, 2:3)
Scorers for WBC Tirol: Hornak 4, Hengl 3, Niklanovič 3, Rohle 1, Burtscher po 1.
Scorers for ASV Wien: Rukavina 4, Grabič 4, Draganič 3, Markovič 3, Kajmak 2.

Eight Game Day of International Waterpolo Alpe Adria League is not finished yet but almost all answeres are known already. Derby of this Game Day was in Ljubljana between Olimpija and Koper. Olimpija lost chances for going on the top, but Dragons still had chances to choose their oponen ts in semifinal. Obviously they decided for Koper. If there won't be any big surprises until the end of the regular part of the league, Branik is going to take first place. Team from Maribor postpone game of this Game Day against Tirol. Another important game was played in Trieste. ASV Wien won important points on their way to the Final Four.
There was hollyday spirit before the game under the baloon in Kodeljevo swimming park. When mustic stoped, hard fight for every ball, for every onch begun. Home crowd was on their feet when Jure Škof scored opening goal of the night. Koper answered in the same way. Story repeat twice in forst period and another time in second, when Rok Crnica equalized on 4:4. Jure Škof scored his second goal for another lead of home team and Andraž Verač added another one for first two goals advantage. At the beginning of third period Olimpija missed two promissing chances and Koper know how to punish that. Simon Berce scored first, Uroš Smolnik equalized and Blaž Čeklič used two man up situation for first lead for Koper. Before last break, Olimpija used gift of Simon Berce. He protested because exclusion of his team-mate in inappropriately way and earns exclusion with substitution. With two man up Jure Škof equalized before last period. Draw on the scoreboard didn't last long. David Kecman scored twice from the whole and Koper sunk. Twins Jure and Jaka Škof confirmed success od home team and set final result.
Also game in Trieste was interesting because it was important for final fourth place and ticket to final four. Team from Austrian capital tried to prove, that their poor position is only temporary and consequence of inconvenient schedule at the beginning. But also home team flirted with final four. Best Scorer of the league, Aaron Giorgi scored five out of six goals for his team. Team from Vienna couldn't find a way to stop him. But they stopped all other Trieste players. When thay shake of nervousness, ASV took the iniciative and decided the game in second and third period.

Grega Košir

Results:

► Olimpija (Slovenia) – Koper (Slovenia) 11:7 (3:3, 3:1, 1:3, 4:0)
Scorers for Olimpija: Ju. Škof 4, Kecman 2, B. Verač 2, A. Verač 2, Ja. Škof 1.
Scorers for Koper: Berce 2, Čeklič 2, Smolnik 2, Crnica 1.

► Pallanuoto Trieste (Italy) – ASV Wien (Austria) 6:8 (2:2, 1:2, 2:3, 1:1)
Scorers for Trieste: Giorgi 5, Giacomini 1.
Scorers for ASV Wien: Kajmak 2, Draganič 2, Rukavina 1, Mijič 1, Grabič 1, Markovič po 1.