The first impressions of Cluj of Jefffery Taylor, 7 seasons basketball player at Real Madrid, and Daron Russell, the spectacular American defender

Monday, August 18, in Barena, The meeting of U-BT Cluj-Napoca took placeformation that from this season will also evolve in the ABA league in addition to participation in Eurocup, the second most important European inter-club competition.

Jefffery Taylor: “I had a few days to explore the city a little, it's a beautiful city”

For this, the Romanian champion has strengthened his lot with 8 players, including and Jefffery Taylor, 7 seasons basketball player at Real Madrid, and Daron Russell, the athlete holding the record record in a match in the ABA Liga (47 points).

The two spoke to the journalists present in the room at the team's meeting, said their first impressions and revealed what convinced him to sign with U-BT. The first player arrived at the Media Panel was Taylor, probably the basketball player with the most important CV who has ever evolved in Romania.

The 36-year-old athlete shook hands with all the journalists and then, very jovially, he started talking, and the keyword was “fun”.

“I had a few days to explore the city a little, it's a beautiful city. Everyone I met were very hospitable and sent me a very hot sensation. I am happy about this, it's a new experience, “Taylor said.

“It's a great project, the fans are wonderful, the city is beautiful and, obviously, the team did excellent, played a good basketball so it's a fun experience for me. I will enjoy this year,” added the Swedish.

Taylor won the Euroliga with Real Madrid: “I love to play in black and white”

Taylor has revealed that she has received very good feedback about U-BT and the city and that she is aware that participation in the ABA League and Eurocub will come with many travelers and strong opponents, the solution being to play in the team.

“We have a very good coach and a solid culture so it will be great. I will enjoy the time spent here and give everything I have for this team. I think we will be very athletic and very good in defense. I also think we will play a lot on the counterattack and we will manage to register a lot of points, ”Taylor said.

On Saturday, when he landed at Cluj-Napoca airport, Real Madrid's former player was already dressed in black and white. “They are my favorite colors, I love to play in black and white so it will be fun,” said the basketball player who, in 2018, won the Euroliga with Los Blancos.

Taylor also said that the Romanian language seems like a mix between Italian and Catalan and also spoke about the defeat with U-BT from last season, when she wore Wolves Vilnius's shirt:

“Their team was better than ours that evening and it was worth the victory. It was a difficult game, with extensions, and probably one of the most fun I played. It was seen how the coach wants the team to evolve. It's a very fast basketball with counterattacks. ”

Daron Russell, the new defender of U-BT Cluj-Napoca, in Pinar Karsiika/Photo: Imago Images

Daron Russell, the new defender of the Romanian champion: “I think the team is full of winners”

Responsible for organizing U-BT Cluj-Napoca's offensive will be Daron Russell, the defender that the Romanian basketball federation wants to naturalize for the national.

“I am very excited. First of all, to be here in Cluj, to meet my teammates and to prepare for the new season. We know we have a long season in front and I hope it will be full of victories“Said the American.

Russell revealed that he watched pictures and videos with the atmosphere in Barena and that he was just waiting to play in front of the public and return to the ABA League, where he holds the record record: 47.

This is the main reason why he signed with U-BT Cluj-Napoca. “It's a growing competition, with 3 Euro -euro -eurolub teams. The coach and the team he trained. I think we can be very successful. I am excited to try to achieve our goals. ”

How do you see the lot built by Mihai Silvășan and the leadership of the black and white? “I think the team is full of winners. We have some older players, but we also have young people. I think it's a very well -built team with a lot of experience and youth. I can hardly wait. It will be an enthusiastic season, with many spectacular actions and a great end. ”

Russell said he would try to do everything he can for the team to win and said that, in difficult times, young players, who are in “prime”, will seek the help of experienced leaders.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca's program in Presezon

U-BT Cluj-Napoca will prepare locally until the first week of September, when he will leave for Râmnicu Vâlcea, for A preparation tour with CS Vâlcea 1924 (7 September) and AEK Athens (September 8).

Then, on September 13-15, the Romanian champion will participate in a tour in Aleksandrovac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he will play against Kk Igokea (13 September) and BC Nizhny Novgorod (September 15).

On September 20, U-BT Cluj-Napoca will take place with CSO Voluntari in Brasov, in the Romanian Super Cupafter which he will have two more friendly in Serbia, with KK Mega Basket (September 22) and Subotica Spartak (September 24).

The debut of Cluj in the new season of EuroCup will be recorded on October 1, in Barena, when U-BT receives the visit of Bahcesehir College Istanbul. In contrast, the first game of Transylvanians in the ABA League will take place on Friday, October 10, on KK Krka's field.