Balkan brilliance: Penezic and Bombac claim March awards
It was an action packed month in the EHF competitions, with the decisive duels in the Women’s EHF EURO 2016 qualification or the VELUX EHF Champions League (Group Phase Round 14, Group Phase knockout and Last 16) taking place in March.
After the February award went to the playmaking maestros, Allison Pineau and Rasmus Lauge Schmidt, the backcourt dominance continues, as prolific Balkans duo Andrea Penezic and Dean Bombac claimed the EHF Players of the Month awards for March.
Penezic: “It’s a big honour being recognised”
Penezic was the cornerstone of Croatia’s Women’s EHF EURO 2016 campaign, sealing the vital two points towards their ninth continental berth with an 11-goals performance against the mighty Montenegro (23:22), to take over the top spot in the Group 4.
“It is a big honour being recognised as a player of the month. I believe that this is a prize that we get for our efforts and the trainings and of course for the performance that we show on the court.
“It is a great feeling and I hope that I will continue with good games also in future,” said the Croatian sharpshooter, Penezic.
Penezic was able to record a staggering 19-goal performance in two matches against Montenegro in March alone, which speaks volumes of her recent form, with her Vardar side just a step away from their third Women’s EHF FINAL4 berth. Moreover, the quintessential left back has been nominated for the Women’s EHF Champions League All-Star team (click here to cast your ballot), to round off her impressive performances in all competitions.
“We played tough matches in March and I must admit that Montenegro are one of the best national teams, and when it comes to us, we have the youngsters in our squad, and taking this into consideration, it is great that we managed to win the home game in Split. I'm very happy because we won two points and that we also showed great performance in the away match.
“Now, at the moment, we are focusing at the club games, and later in June, we expect great matches with FYR Macedonia and Slovenia,” said Penezic.
Bombac: “Everything I’ve worked so hard for has paid out”
With both of the March luminaries recording a win and a loss each, performances of Dean Bombac could not have been overlooked, despite his Pick Szeged side’s eventual elimination from the VELUX EHF Champions League.
Bombac masterminded Szeged to a home triumph against THW Kiel (33:29), before an ill-fated visit to Sparkessen Arena, which ended with defeat.
However, the maverick Slovenian tormented the German side for a second season in a row, excreting brilliance in both of his team’s efforts. Despite being eliminated, Szeged will not be bereft of challenges for the remainder of the season, as the Hungarian title challengers await the deciding matches in April and May.
“I am pleased with how the season unfolded, but I really think I could have done more. I wasn’t feeling particularly well due to my nagging knee problems, but this is the time in the season when I feel I can kick my performances up a notch.
“I only think about how to finish the season on a high note and leave a legacy here before I move,” said the humble centre back, who has already agreed to move to Kielce. He scored two out of his 13 March goals on court of his future club in the last round of the group phase.
“I am, most of all, happy that everything I have worked so hard for has paid out. It gives me a sense of direction, and strength to continue doing what I love and what I know best. My desire is to lift the Champions League trophy someday,” said Bombac.
Moreover, Bombac has managed to shoot his way up to the second place among the VELUX EHF Champions League top scorers, with 101 goals, only six behind the leader Mikkel Hansen.
“I never pay much attention to the numbers. I tried hard, got in all the right chances and managed to deliver.
“It is nice to score many goals and get acknowledged for that, but it means nothing in the end if you can’t win it for your team,” said 26-year old Bombac, before emphasising team’s contribution to his EHF Player of the Month accolade.
“People tend to count goals and comment how good you are individually, but they do not see what’s behind it. My teammates are the biggest contributor to my form. We are one great team, and each and every one of them is giving his best effort, dying out there to allow me the chance to score,” said the flamboyant playmaker.
While only a nominee in February, Bombac’s inspired performances have convinced the panel of EHF journalists to give him the nod of approval ahead of other nominees in a list of impressive names, including Mads Mensah Larsen (DEN/Rhein-Neckar Löwen), Alem Toskic (SRB/Vardar), Rodrigo Corrales (ESP/Wisla Plock) and Arpad Sterbik (ESP/Vardar).
Andrea Penezic adorns herself with the EHF Player of the Month crown ahead of the Romanian handball princess Cristina Neagu (Buducnost), followed by the diminutive Russian right back Anna Vyakhireva (Astrakhanochka), in-form French goalkeeper Amandine Leynaud (Vardar) and the January runner-up Nerrea Pena (ESP/FTC Rail-Cargo Hungaria).
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EHF / Nemanja Savic, Amina Idrizi, br