The finals of the traditional Dubrovnik bathing spots championship took place at the City Port. In the final, FUN H2O defeated Porporela 9:8, while Plaža Bellevue took bronze after a penalty shootout.
The traditional competition, an indispensable part of Dubrovnik's summer and one of the city's symbols, has crowned its old-new champion. The team FUN H2O from Mlini won their third consecutive, and fifth overall, Wild League title, defeating Porporela 9:8 in the final. The match was played at the City Port and was broadcast by HVS TV and Sports Television, which marked its first national concession broadcast of this competition.
The final began with the sound of Dubrovnik's trombunjeri cannons, with international referee Nenad Periš from Split officiating. FUN H2O controlled most of the match, at one point holding a three-goal lead. Porporela, the team with a record 16 medals in league history, did not give up but couldn't fully close the gap. The final score of 9:8 confirmed the dominance of the Mlini team, which was unstoppable this season.
The battle for third place was no less exciting. Plaža Bellevue and Elite played to a 9:9 draw in regular time, with penalties deciding the bronze. In the shootout from five meters, Plaža Bellevue proved more accurate, winning 12:11 overall. The quarters of that match ended 2:3, 2:2, 2:2, and 3:2, followed by penalties that Plaža Bellevue won 3:2.
Toni Paskojević from the winning team FUN H2O was named the best player of the entire Wild League. Toni Kirigin from Plaža Bellevue became the top scorer with 13 goals, while his teammate Lindo Koboević took the title of best goalkeeper. The votes of the four best-placed teams decided the best player and goalkeeper selections.
Medals were presented on the steps of St. Blaise's Church by Paulo Obradović, Nikša Dobud, Maro Joković, Elvis Fatović, and Felipe Perrone. Trophies were handed to the laureates by Ivona Šimunović, director of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect Blaž Pezo, and Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković. A special moment of the evening was the gesture of three young world champions. Marin Bajurin, Toma Drobac, and Ivano Lončar, players of VK Jug Adriatic osiguranje who won gold with Croatia at the U18 World Championship, presented their national team jerseys to the Wild League's best individuals.
This year, 21 teams participated in the Wild League. The new large challenge trophy was brought by Stjepko Bokarica, a player for Bellevue '73, the club that won the first 'modern' Wild League in 1983. Bokarica himself won the championship title in 1986 and continued playing for decades later.
The evening's finale was marked by DJ Vjeverica, who said: "Ladies and gentlemen, that's it. This one's done too!"
