Calise CUP 2025

2025 was the year of growth and raising the technical level for the international tournament and EBT Calise Cup, which after the boom in registrations in the past edition, managed to replicate itself and do even better given the presence of 19 men's teams, 7 women's teams and numerous young athletes between Under 18, Under 16, Mini Beach Handball and Ultimate Beach Handball; which would have been more if there had not been any Last Minute defections.

Under a scorching heat, the teams and officials from 13 different nationalities gave life to three days of high-level technical competitions, Fair Play, fun, socialization, inclusion and globalization at the highest levels.

Around the city, hordes of athletes invaded the various establishments, accommodation facilities, shops and visited the beauties of the area.

There was so much enthusiasm as well as the work carried out night and day by the organizing staff, busy until a few hours before the start of the tournament in setting up the new Arena Beach stand, made possible thanks to the Lazio Region, the Honorable Cosimino Mitrano, the mayor of Gaeta Cristian Leccese and his entire council as well as the collaboration of the Pro Loco, all in active collaboration with the Federazione Giuoco Handball; the latter was present with 3 delegations (senior male and female and the Under 17 team).

The Portuguese team of GRD Leca – Spar won the men's “Cerbone” tournament, a team that is well-known in the world of Beach Handball as it boasts the presence of the strongest goalkeeper of the last world championships and numerous athletes from the Portuguese national team. Coach Pedro Pereira's team won against the Hungarians of Salgotarjani Strandépítők with a score of 2-0 at the end of a hard-fought and beautiful match to watch: first set 24-20 and the match decided with a golden goal for the final 25-24 of the second set.

Third place instead for the Latvians of C4H10 Melluzhi Jurmala, at the end of the match won against the Blue Team of coach Pasquale Maione, decided in the shootout. In the first set it is 24-19 for the Latvians, then it is Italy who wins 25-20 but in the lottery of the moving penalties it is the team of coach Butans who has the upper hand with the score of 11-10 in their favor.

In the women's category for the "Ulda" trophy, the Calise Cup speaks Dutch this year, instead, since the team of Beach Even Anders of Vita Samson and teammates raises the cup to the sky; who, despite being reduced in number, are good at beating the Hungarians of Red Velvet BHC at the end of a truly excellent journey. The match is always balanced between the two teams, who face each other openly; with the score saying 19-18 in the first set and 22-19 in the second. For the Dutch, satisfaction for Lise Fokkens as best right winger and Vita Samson proclaimed best pivot while in the Hungarian house there is joy for Dalma Matefi who between the posts was superlative especially in the semifinal won against the Blue Team (just one goal conceded in the shootout) and for the best specialist Bodza Buzsáki, a real thorn in the side for the opposing defenses.

On the third step of the podium, the Italian girls of the Blue Team Women of coach Elena Barani and assistant Zucchi Pastor, who proudly won against the Magyars of the Venice Beach Girls and obtained the deserved bronze at the end of a tiring week of training, following the EBT Finals in Trapani. The first set ended 16-15 for the Italians, in the second set captain Bertolino and teammates pushed on the accelerator and imposed themselves with greater ease on 21-16. Individual successes also for Giovanna Lucarini, awarded the prize as MVP of the event and for Violetta Vegni, absolute protagonist in the defensive department and elected best defender of the tournament.

Even in the Under 18 category there is the blue because the Blue Team Under 17 of the duo D’Arrigo – Balogh, prevails over the Swiss team of the Swiss Boys Under 17 confirming the excellent path obtained since the Main Round while the bronze is awarded to the Grosseto Handball team at the expense of CUS Cassino.

Finally in the Under 16 competition it is the Marconi Jumpers, at its first appearance in the Calise Cup, to triumph over the newborn team of the Figh Area 7 while the third step of the podium is occupied by CUS Cassino.

Men's All Star:

Best Goalkeeper: Bence Nagy (Salgotarjani Strandépítők)

Best Defender: Guillermo Villasan (Grd Leca – Spar)

Best Left Wing: Thomas Robben (Beach Handball Tilburg)

Best Pivot: Nicholas Balogh (Blue Team Men)

Best Specialist: Luis Alvez (Grd Leca – Spar)

Best Right Wing: Pablo Relinque (GRD Leca – Spar)

MVP: Christian Mitteruznter (Blue Team Men)

Fair Play: Operacao Camarao

Women's All Star:

Best Goalkeeper: Dalma Matefi (Red Velvet BHC – Hungary)

Best Defender: Violetta Vegni (Blue Team Women – Italy)

Best Left Wing: Dorina Gal (Venice Beach Girls - Hungary)

Best Pivot: Vita Samson (Beach Even Anders – Netherlands)

Best Specialist: Bodza Buzsáki (Red Velvet BHC – Hungary)

Best Right Wing: Lise Fokkens (Beach Even Anders – Netherlands)

MVP: Giovanna Lucarini (Blue Team Women – Italy)

Fair Play: Beach Handball Tilburg – Netherlands 

U18 All star:

Best Goalkeeper: Leon Wieser (Swiss Boys U17 – Switzerland)

Best Defender: Matteo Agrillo (Blue Team U17 – Italy)

MVP: Samuele Summa (Blue Team U17 – Italy)

Fair Play: Grosseto Handball – Italy 

U16 All star:

Best Goalkeeper: Raffaele Rufo (FIGH Area 7 – Italy)

Best Defender: Matteo Prosdocimo (CUS Cassino Gaeta ’84 – Italy)

MVP: Andrea Sergio (Marconi Jumpers – Italy)

Fair Play: CUS Cassino Gaeta ’84

There were also moments of inclusion thanks to the 3rd Marco Gianni tournament and promotion of Beach Handball with the Mini Beach Handball, Ultimate Beach Handball and Kids Day categories. All with the participation of the tournament Ambassador Violetta Vegni, impeccable in the role assigned to her and always available to all the athletes. Formidable defender of the Italian National “Blue Team”, arrived in Gaeta immediately after the EBT finals held in Trapani and pivot of the Brixen Handball Damen, with which she won the Italian title in the 2023/2024 season.

Born in 2000 but already so experienced thanks to the numerous participations in EHF events and EBT tournaments and the new generations have been able to learn a lot, observing her talent on the field, but above all the Fair Play that she always shows, the kindness with everyone, the smile and the sharing of positive emotions with her teammates. team, opponents and referees.

She was not alone, but with a legend of Italian Beach Handball: Elena Barani. It is often said "a person who needs no introduction", but we feel obliged to do so given her caliber. She won bronze at the World Championships in 2004, bronze at the European Championships in 2011 and 2015 and the gold medal in 2009, and participated in the World Games where she was also Best Pivot. She also won 2 Italian titles and, indoors, 8 times Italian Champions, 9 Italian Cups and 5 Super Cups.

During the finals there were performances by the dancers of the Centro del Movimento di Gaeta di Rita Spinosa, who cheered up the teams on the field and the large audience present, who also watched from the wall above the field given the Sold Out stand.

Finally, awards for all participants, thanks and the hope of seeing everyone again for the Calise Cup 2026 after the extraordinary success achieved this year.

Calise CUP 2025