Performance for CSO Voluntari! Ilfovenii won the first European trophy in the club history

• In the small final, Dziki Warsaw won 80-78 in front of Inter Bratislava.
• As a result, the final ranking of the 4 ENBL was as follows: CSO Voluntari, Newcastle Eagles, Dziki Warsaw, Inter Bratislava.

The few fans who were present in the Gopass Arena in Bratislava, at the ENBL final, saw a spectacular duel, which sowed a lot with a boxing match. The same as in the regular season, when Newcastle Eagles imposed with 84-80, The two camps changed fists and exceeded moments when they seemed to be “in the ropes”.

Perfect balance in the first half of the final between CSO Voluntari and Newcastle Eagles

Although the name ENBL betrays the fact that this is a regional league in Europe, the basketball provided by the two teams seemed to match the American style. That's because The collective game was completely absent in significant parts of the first halfthe stars resorting more to individual actions.

The referees allowed the contacts, left a more physical game and had numerous bizarre decisions, which were challenged by the staff of the Ilfovians. In the first half, the British led more, but Kodi Justice, came from the bench, managed to draw their team after him and restore balance.

CSO Voluntari vs. Newcastle Eagles, in the ENBL/PHOTO FINAL: X (Newcastle Eagles)

The stakes of the final felt strongly and “Vultures” seemed to be the first to give in because of the nerves. In the second quarter, Marc Steutel asked for a rest time and had a very heated discussion with one of his players. Then followed a time-out of Ainars Bagatskis which, in a high tone and among the swearing, sent to his students an essential message: “Now it's not time to dream, it's time to play”.

The first quarter ended on equal 22-22 after a basket on the mermaid Lucas Tohătanand, at the break, the score was still equal, 46-46, due to a success in the last second of the American Trey Pulliam.

CSO Voluntari, led by Mike Caffey and Lewis Sullivan, won the second half

After returning from the locker rooms, the two finalists continued to rely a lot on individual actions, most of them coming from inside the semicircle. A distance from the distance marked by Mike CaffeyCSO Voluntari's defender, was a good opportunity for the Romanian Cup holder to take control.

At the end of the 3rd quarter, the score was 67-61 for Bagatskis's basketball players and followed the most important test for them. In the duel with Eagles from the regular season, The team in Romania led to 17 points in the decisive act and, however, it was defeated.

The British worked for 2 minutes, in both phases of the land, to halve the deficit and then the same caffey, more and more self -confident, restored the difference of 6 points. There followed a period of tapping between the two teams, in which Pivot Sullivan went to the ramp for volunteers.

With little under 3 minutes left of the match, the score became 83-73 and Steutel immediately asked for the game. The coach of the British national team asked his students to change the rhythm and to intelligently use the faults they had available.

The strategy did not bear fruit because CSO Voluntari managed excellent advantage and imposed with 95-82, winning the European North Basketball League.

CSO Voluntari's leaders were Lewis Sullivan (23 points, 6 recovery), Mike Caffey (22 points), Lee Skinner (18 points, 9 recovery) and Justin Edler Davis (16 points, 11 recovery).

On the other side, Mike Okauru (20 points), Trey Pulliam (14 points) and Seneca Knight (12 points) were noted.

• All Star Five: Mike Okauru (Newcastle Eagles), Isaiah Cousins ​​(Inter Bratislava), Lee Skinner (CSO Voluntari), Alijah Comithier (Dziki Warsaw), by Sean Allen Eikens (Newcastle Eagles)

• MVP: Mike Caffey (CSO Voluntari)

10-2was the balance of CSO Voluntari in the current ENBL edition

It was probably a real final. In the first two quarters, the teams played better in the attack than in the defense. We had to focus on our job. I made too many mistakes. Today I had 9 in the first part.

In the second half, I played smarter, I made better decisions, I moved the ball better on the offensive and lost the ball only 2 times. We also controlled the fight for recovery and all these things helped us in the attack. Finally I won a trophy because last year I lost it on the end

– Ainars Bagatskis, Cso Voluntari's coach

What does this trophy mean for CSO Voluntari? “It means a lot. We are a young club, newborn on the European stage. This competition is a good place to test as a club, organization, players, staff. I like that my basketball players have accepted style. From the first day I told them that if we want to survive, we cannot rely on only 1-2 players. No one will play for more than 25 minutes. The whole season I used a rotation of 10 players and that is why I had more energy and power at the end of the game ”, replied the Latvian technician.

In season 2023-2024, CSO Voluntari was defeated in the ENBL final by Bakken Bears: 81-85.