With an implementation system that includes two groups will be conducted the A1 men’s polo in the 2021-22 season, the match schedule of which became known today (16/9).
The new – and complex – system of A1 men’s water polo, which will be implemented during the 2021-22 season, was presented by the JV to the representatives of the clubs, during the draw of the championship that took place today (16/9) at a hotel in Paleo Faliro . Initially, the 16 teams were divided into two groups of eight and will all compete against everyone in two rounds, from October 2 to February 5. After the draw, the groups of the AD phase were formed as follows:
GROUP A: Olympiacos, Apollon Smyrnis, PAOK, AEK, Paleo Faliro, Glyfada, Ethnikos, Aris Thessaloniki
GROUP B: Vouliagmeni, Peristeri, Hydraikos, Panionios, Chania, Chios, Volos, Panathinaikos
In phase B (February 12-March 26), four groups of four groups are formed, as follows:
GROUP 1: 1st and 2nd of the AD and BG Groups of the AD phase
GROUP 2: 3rd and 4th and of the AD and BG groups of the AD phase
GROUP 3: 5th and 6th and of the AD and BG groups of the AD phase
GROUP 4: 7th and 8th and of the AD and BG groups of the AD phase
All teams transfer all the points they collected in the AD phase and play in the group with all opponents, at home and away (6 games). The teams of Group 1 have a guaranteed presence in the playoffs, while the teams of Group 4 will definitely participate in the playoffs.
After the end of the 2nd phase, the teams of Groups 2 and 3 face each other crosswise, in series of “best of 3” (in the two victories). The pairs in which the teams of Group 2 of the 2nd phase will have a home advantage, will be as follows:
4th Group 2-1 Group 3 (1)
1st Group 2-4th Group 3 (2)
2nd Group 2-3rd Group 3 (3)
3rd Group 2-2 Group 3 (4)
The winners of these pairs advance to the quarterfinals of the playoffs, where they will face (with a home disadvantage) the teams of Group 1 of the B phase. Respectively, the losers play a play-off with the teams of Group 4 of the 2nd Phase, having a home advantage. The pairs are as follows:
Play Offs
1st Group 1-Winner 1
4th Group 1-Winner 2
3rd Group 1-Winner 3
2nd Group 1-Winner 4
Play Out
Loser 1-4th Group 4
Lost 2-1st Group 4
Lost 3-2nd Group 4
Loser 4-3rd Group 4
The winners of the quarterfinals advance to the semifinals of the playoffs and the losers continue for the 5-8 positions. Then, the winners of the semifinals face each other in the finals, the losers claim the third place and the winners of the 5-8 games play for the fifth place of the final ranking. All playoff series are “best of 3”, except the finals which are “best of 5” (in the three wins).
In the play-offs, the losers of the four pairs face each other in “best of 3” series, with their winners remaining in the category and the losers relegated to A2.
The article Polo: Draw for the A1 Men held in two groups published in NewsIT .