# 2015–16 División de Honor de Waterpolo

The 2015–16 season of the División de Honor de Waterpolo was the 93rd season of top-tier water polo in Spain since its inception in 1925. Twelve teams competed for this season.
The season comprises regular season and championship playoff. The regular season started in October 2015 and finished on April 23, 2016. Top eight teams at standings when finishing regular season play the championship playoff.
The championship playoff started on 3/4 May with the quarter-finals series. Quarter finals, semifinals and Final are played to the best of 3 matches.
Atlètic-Barceloneta won its eleventh title in a row and sixteenth overall after defeating AstralPool Sabadell in the Championship Final series 2–1.

## Competition
### Format

The División de Honor season took place between October and May, with every team playing each other at home and away for a total of 22 matches. Points were awarded according to the following:
* 3 points for a win
* 1 point for a draw
Top eight teams when finishing regular season play championship playoff. Bottom team is relegated while team qualified 11th play relegation playoff.

### Promotion and relegation

Bottom team at standings when finishing regular season is relegated to Primera División, while the champion team from Primera División is promoted.

## Team information

| Team | City/Area | Founded | Stadium | website |
| Atlètic-Barceloneta | Barcelona | 1913 (1992) | Piscina Sant Sebastià | |
| Mediterrani | Barcelona | 1931 | Instal·lació Josep Vallès | |
| Sabadell | Sabadell | 1916 | Can Llong | |
| Mataró Quadis | Mataró | 1932 | Piscina Joan Serra | |
| Terrassa | Terrassa | 1932 | Àrea Olímpica | Archived 2015-05-12 at the Wayback Machine |
| Real Canoe–Isostar | Madrid | 1931 | Piscina Real Canoe | |
| Barcelona | Barcelona | 1907 | Nova Escullera | |
| Catalunya | Barcelona | 1931 | Piscina Sant Jordi | |
| Sant Andreu | Barcelona | 1971 | Piscina Pere Serrat | |
| Waterpolo Navarra | Pamplona | 2006 | Ciudad Deportiva Amaya | |
| Rubí | Rubí | 1971 | Piscina Can Rosés | |
| Sant Feliu | Sant Feliu de Llobregat | 1969 | Piscina CN Molins de Rei | |

## Regular season standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Atlètic-Barceloneta | 22 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 282 | 121 | +161 | 64 | Qualification to championship playoffs |
| 2 | AstralPool Sabadell | 22 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 275 | 164 | +111 | 55 | Qualification to championship playoffs |
| 3 | Real Canoe–Isostar | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 206 | 182 | +24 | 43 | Qualification to championship playoffs |
| 4 | Terrassa | 22 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 215 | 158 | +57 | 42 | Qualification to championship playoffs |
| 5 | Quadis Mataró | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 229 | 178 | +51 | 40 | Qualification to championship playoffs |
| 6 | Barcelona | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 202 | 202 | 0 | 37 | Qualification to championship playoffs |
| 7 | Sant Andreu | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 197 | 185 | +12 | 28 | Qualification to championship playoffs |
| 8 | Mediterrani | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 189 | 195 | −6 | 28 | Qualification to championship playoffs |
| 9 | Catalunya | 22 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 177 | 227 | −50 | 23 | |
| 10 | Waterpolo Navarra | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 158 | 235 | −77 | 19 | |
| 11 | Rubí | 22 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 147 | 251 | −104 | 8 | Qualification to relegation playoff |
| 12 | Sant Feliu | 22 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 109 | 288 | −179 | 0 | Relegation to Primera División |

## Championship playoffs
### Bracket

| Quarter-finals (best of 3) | Quarter-finals (best of 3) | Quarter-finals (best of 3) | Quarter-finals (best of 3) | Quarter-finals (best of 3) | Semi-finals (best of 3) | Semi-finals (best of 3) | Semi-finals (best of 3) | Semi-finals (best of 3) | Semi-finals (best of 3) | Final (best of 3) | Final (best of 3) | Final (best of 3) | Final (best of 3) | Final (best of 3) | Final (best of 3) | |
| 1 | Atlètic-Barceloneta | 16 | 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mediterrani | 2 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mediterrani | 2 | 3 | | 1 | Atlètic-Barceloneta | 13 | 10 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Terrassa | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Terrassa | 5 | 6 | | 4 | Terrassa | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Quadis Mataró | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Quadis Mataró | 4 | 5 | | | | | | | 1 | Atlètic-Barceloneta | 6 | 9 | 11 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | AstralPool Sabadell | 8 | 6 | 8 | | |
| 2 | AstralPool Sabadell | 15 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | AstralPool Sabadell | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| 7 | Sant Andreu | 10 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Sant Andreu | 10 | 7 | | 2 | AstralPool Sabadell | 8 | 10 | 12 | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Barcelona | 10 | 9 | 9 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Real Canoe–Isostar | 7 | 13 | 8 | 6 | Barcelona | 10 | 9 | 9 | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Barcelona | 11 | 12 | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Quarter-finals
#### 1st match

| May 3 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Atlètic-Barceloneta | 16–2 | Mediterrani | Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Jaumandreu Sellarès, Teixidó Bermúdez |
| Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Jaumandreu Sellarès, Teixidó Bermúdez |||
| May 3 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Español 4 | Goals | Idárraga 2 | Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Jaumandreu Sellarès, Teixidó Bermúdez |
| May 3 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Terrassa | 5–4 | Quadis Mataró | Piscina Àrea Olímpica, Terrassa Referees: Buch Juanola, Iñesta Peralta |
| Piscina Àrea Olímpica, Terrassa Referees: Buch Juanola, Iñesta Peralta |||
| May 3 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | five players 1 | Goals | Barbena, Merino 2 | Piscina Àrea Olímpica, Terrassa Referees: Buch Juanola, Iñesta Peralta |
| May 4 13:30 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Real Canoe–Isostar | 7–11 | Barcelona | Centro de Natación Mundial 86, Madrid Referees: Teixidó Bermúdez, Cerezo Crespo |
| Centro de Natación Mundial 86, Madrid Referees: Teixidó Bermúdez, Cerezo Crespo |||
| May 4 13:30 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | V Gutiérrez 3 | Goals | Esteller 3 | Centro de Natación Mundial 86, Madrid Referees: Teixidó Bermúdez, Cerezo Crespo |
| May 4 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | AstralPool Sabadell | 15–10 | Sant Andreu | Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Torres Pérez, Guardia Marsal |
| Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Torres Pérez, Guardia Marsal |||
| May 4 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | three players 3 | Goals | Brúder 6 | Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Torres Pérez, Guardia Marsal |

#### 2nd match

| May 5 18:00 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Quadis Mataró | 5–6 | Terrassa | Piscina Joan Serra, Mataró Referees: Teule Barreda, Ortega Carreras |
| Piscina Joan Serra, Mataró Referees: Teule Barreda, Ortega Carreras |||
| May 5 18:00 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Corbalán 2 | Goals | Granados 2 | Piscina Joan Serra, Mataró Referees: Teule Barreda, Ortega Carreras |
| May 5 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Mediterrani | 3–11 | Atlètic-Barceloneta | Piscina Josep Vallès, Barcelona Referees: Colominas Ezponda, Aymerich Miñarro |
| Piscina Josep Vallès, Barcelona Referees: Colominas Ezponda, Aymerich Miñarro |||
| May 5 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | G García 2 | Goals | three players 2 | Piscina Josep Vallès, Barcelona Referees: Colominas Ezponda, Aymerich Miñarro |
| May 6 13:30 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Barcelona | 12–13 | Real Canoe–Isostar | Piscina Nova Escullera, Barcelona Referees: Jiménez Turnes, Ortega Pacheco |
| Piscina Nova Escullera, Barcelona Referees: Jiménez Turnes, Ortega Pacheco |||
| May 6 13:30 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Esteller 4 | Goals | Barroso 4 | Piscina Nova Escullera, Barcelona Referees: Jiménez Turnes, Ortega Pacheco |
| May 6 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Sant Andreu | 7–15 | AstralPool Sabadell | Piscina Pere Serrat, Barcelona Referees: Jiménez Turnes, Galindo Moreno |
| Piscina Pere Serrat, Barcelona Referees: Jiménez Turnes, Galindo Moreno |||
| May 6 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Brúder 2 | Goals | Gallego 3 | Piscina Pere Serrat, Barcelona Referees: Jiménez Turnes, Galindo Moreno |

#### 3rd match

| May 8 13:30 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Real Canoe–Isostar | 8–12 | Barcelona | Centro de Natación Mundial 86, Madrid Referees: Galindo Moreno, Felicidad Rodríguez |
| Centro de Natación Mundial 86, Madrid Referees: Galindo Moreno, Felicidad Rodríguez |||
| May 8 13:30 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Barroso 3 | Goals | Ďurík 4 | Centro de Natación Mundial 86, Madrid Referees: Galindo Moreno, Felicidad Rodríguez |

### Semifinals
#### 1st match

| May 12 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Atlètic-Barceloneta | 13–6 | Terrassa | Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Buch Juanola, Ortega Pacheco |
| Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Buch Juanola, Ortega Pacheco |||
| May 12 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Rašović 4 | Goals | Granados 2 | Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Buch Juanola, Ortega Pacheco |
| May 14 12:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | AstralPool Sabadell | 8–10 | Barcelona | Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Teixidó Bermúdez, Colominas Ezponda |
| Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Teixidó Bermúdez, Colominas Ezponda |||
| May 14 12:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | three players 2 | Goals | four players 2 | Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Teixidó Bermúdez, Colominas Ezponda |

#### 2nd match

| May 15 12:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Terrassa | 6–10 | Atlètic-Barceloneta | Àrea Olímpica, Terrassa Referees: Galindo Moreno, Iñesta Peralta |
| Àrea Olímpica, Terrassa Referees: Galindo Moreno, Iñesta Peralta |||
| May 15 12:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Granados, J Pérez 2 | Goals | Rašović, Munarriz 3 | Àrea Olímpica, Terrassa Referees: Galindo Moreno, Iñesta Peralta |
| May 16 12:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Barcelona | 9–10 | AstralPool Sabadell | Nova Escullera, Barcelona Referees: Buch Juanola, Teule Barreda |
| Nova Escullera, Barcelona Referees: Buch Juanola, Teule Barreda |||
| May 16 12:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | nine players 1 | Goals | López Escribano | Nova Escullera, Barcelona Referees: Buch Juanola, Teule Barreda |

#### 3rd match

| May 22 12:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | AstralPool Sabadell | 12–9 | Barcelona | Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Galindo Moreno, Teixidó Bermúdez |
| Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Galindo Moreno, Teixidó Bermúdez |||
| May 22 12:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | López Escribano 5 | Goals | three players 2 | Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Galindo Moreno, Teixidó Bermúdez |

### Final
#### 1st match

| May 24 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Atlètic-Barceloneta | 6–8 | AstralPool Sabadell | Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Buch Juanola, Colominas Ezponda |
| Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Buch Juanola, Colominas Ezponda |||
| May 24 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Munarriz 2 | Goals | López Escribano 3 | Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Buch Juanola, Colominas Ezponda |

#### 2nd match

| May 26 21:00 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | AstralPool Sabadell | 6–9 | Atlètic-Barceloneta | Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Galindo Moreno, Torres Pérez |
| Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Galindo Moreno, Torres Pérez |||
| May 26 21:00 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Koopman, López Escribano 2 | Goals | Minguell, Faměra 2 | Piscines Carles Ibars, Sabadell Referees: Galindo Moreno, Torres Pérez |

#### 3rd match

| May 30 21:00 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Atlètic-Barceloneta | 11–8 | AstralPool Sabadell | Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Teixidó Bermúdez, Gómez Pordomingo |
| Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Teixidó Bermúdez, Gómez Pordomingo |||
| May 30 21:00 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Munarriz 4 | Goals | Marsal 3 | Piscina Sant Sebastià, Barcelona Referees: Teixidó Bermúdez, Gómez Pordomingo |
Atlètic-Barceloneta wins championship Final series 2–1.
* 2015–16 División de Honor winners
* Atlètic-Barceloneta Sixteenth title

#### Individual awards

* Championship MVP: Alberto Munarriz, CN Atlètic-Barceloneta
* Best Goalkeeper: Daniel López, CN Atlètic-Barceloneta
* Top goalscorer: Robin Lindhout, CN Mataró

## Relegation playoff

Playoff to be played in two legs. 1st leg to be played on 7 May and 2nd leg on 14 May. The overall winner will play in División de Honor 2016–17 and the loser will play in Primera Nacional.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Rubí | 23–18 | Acuasport Tenerife Echeyde | 15–12 | 8–6 |

### 1st leg

| May 7 17:45 (UTC+1) | Boxscore | Acuasport Tenerife Echeyde | 12–15 | Rubí | Piscina Quico Cabrera, Santa Cruz Referees: Gómez Pordomingo, Torres Pérez |
| Piscina Quico Cabrera, Santa Cruz Referees: Gómez Pordomingo, Torres Pérez |||
| May 7 17:45 (UTC+1) | Boxscore | Alcalá, Fernández-Caldas 4 | Goals | Carrasco 4 | Piscina Quico Cabrera, Santa Cruz Referees: Gómez Pordomingo, Torres Pérez |

### 2nd leg

| May 14 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Rubí | 8–6 | Acuasport Tenerife Echeyde | Piscina Can Rosés, Rubí Referees: Jaumandreu Sellarès, Iñesta Peralta |
| Piscina Can Rosés, Rubí Referees: Jaumandreu Sellarès, Iñesta Peralta |||
| May 14 20:45 (UTC+2) | Boxscore | Reuten 2 | Goals | San Martín 3 | Piscina Can Rosés, Rubí Referees: Jaumandreu Sellarès, Iñesta Peralta |
CN Rubí won 23–18 on aggregate and remained in División de Honor 2016–17.

## Season statistics
### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
| 1 | Robin Lindhout | Quadis Mataró | 64 |
| 2 | Alberto Barroso | Real Canoe–Isostar | 58 |
| 3 | Víctor Gutiérrez | Real Canoe–Isostar | 53 |
| 4 | Albert Español | Atlètic-Barceloneta | 52 |
| 5 | Gonzalo López Escribano | AstralPool Sabadell | 47 |
| 6 | Víctor Flores | Barcelona | 45 |
| 7 | Germán Yañez | Mediterrani | 41 |
| 8 | Joel Esteller | Barcelona | 40 |
| 9 | Lukáš Ďurík | Barcelona | 39 |
| 9 | Strahinja Rašović | Atlètic-Barceloneta | 39 |

### Number of teams by autonomous communities

| | Autonomous Communities | No. teams | Teams |
| 1 | Catalonia | 10 | Barcelona, Barceloneta, Catalunya, Mataró, Mediterrani, Rubí, Sant Feliu, Sabadell, Sant Andreu and Terrassa |
| 2 | Madrid | 1 | Real Canoe |
| 3 | Navarre | 1 | Navarra |