DAY 3 REVIEW: The final day of the ebt Finals 2016 saw Agenta Girls continuing a now two-year-long unbeaten run all the way to the podium, while a Greek men's side Kilkis Akropolis won gold on home sand
Agenta Girls and G.A.S. Kilkis Akropolis top the podium at ebt Finals
Hungarian women's beach handball side Agenta Girls have defended their title, while local Greek side G.A.S. Kilkis Akropolis topped the podium in the men's event as the ebt Finals 2016 concluded in Thessaloniki on Sunday.
There was a chance for a double-Greek victory as AC Spartacus Goalbet had reached the women's final but winning the second set 22:20 was not enough, as Agenta Girls showed nerves of steel in the shoot-out to win 7:4 and eventually take a 2:1 victory.
The shoot-out was also needed in the men's finals in which Kilkis Akropolis had won the first set against 2015 EHF Champions Cup winners BHC SKKM-EKATERINODAR 12:10, but lost the second 18:20. The shoot-out was equally close, with Kilkis Akropolis eventually winning the third set - and hence the game overall - 7:6.
Just ahead of the finals in both events defending men's champions Detono Zagreb claimed third place with 2:0 win against Paksoft Camelot. On Sunday morning the 'Detonators' had lost their semi-final against G.A.S. Kilkis Akropolis 0:2, forfeiting the chance to win the ebt Finals for the fourth time in a row and the seventh time overall.
In the women's event Paksoft Camelot won bronze, winning 2:0 against Westsite in an all-Dutch match for third place.
For Agenta Girls the unbeaten run at the ebt Finals continues. After they had qualified for the 2015 event only courtesy of a wildcard, they topped the podium in unbeaten fashion and went all the to the top without losing a game in 2016 as well.
All-star team named
Hence it came to no surprise that Agenta's Viktoria Vigh was named the tournament's MVP in the women's event. In the men's competition this honour went to Nailson de Sousa do Amaral of G.A.S. Kilkis Akropolis.
Robbert Krujine of Paksoft Camelot was named best goalkeeper, while Ignacio Oleaga Ballester of Spanish side Club Balonmano Playa Algeciras became the top scorer with 82 points.
Croatian club BHC Sesvete received the Fair Play Award.
In the women's event Magdalini Kepesidou of A.C. Spartacus Goalbet became the best goalkeeper, Detono Zagreb's Katja Herakovic was the best scorer with 70 points.
The fact that they only received two suspensions was enough for Westsite to receive the Fair Play Award in the women's event.
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EHF / ts