U-BT Cluj-Napoca, a successful start of the Presezon, despite some big lot problems »Victory with Aek Athens after a basket in the last second

U-BT Cluj-Napoca is preparing for the most spectacular season in history, one in which he will participate in both Eurocup and in the ABA League. For this, the management of the white and white changed most of the lot and these days, in Râmnicu Vâlcea, the first verification games of the Romanian champion were recorded.

Sunday, September 7, Iiverson Molinar, Mitch Creek, Dusan Miletic and Daron Russell led U-BT to a victory in front of CS Vâlcea 1924, score 99-90. Lacking Karel Guzman and Ben Altit and, with a Patrick Richard who felt pain in the leg from the first minutes, Mihai Silvășan's team dominated his opponent.

Daron Russell, the hero of U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the victory with Aek Athens from Râmnicu Vâlcea

On Monday, September 8, a confrontation with AEK Athens followed, a strong band from the Greek championship, which also evolves in Basketball Champions League and which started preparation earlier.

The Greeks played very physically and aggressively, and Iveron Molinar and Nathan Mensah quickly accumulated 2 personal mistakes, Silvășan having to introduce young Radu Cepoi and Andrei Szabo again.

Daron Russell started the excellent match, and Molinar led the Cluj offensive in the second quarter, but he also accused some medical problems and has not been used. Mensah did much better than in confrontation with CS Vâlcea 1924, and Jefffery Taylor, Real Madrid's former player, showed his experience with excellent remote baskets.

In the second part of the dispute, Mitch Creek began to notice on the offensive, and U-BT has distanced at over 10 points. However, following some mistakes made at the end, AEK Athens returned and took over, score 93-92, with less than 10 seconds left from the match.

Silvășan asked for a rest time and unloaded his nerves on Miletic, who allowed 3 opponents to throw, but after the game resumed, Russell, with cold blood, marked the 3-point basket that brought the victory of U-BT Cluj-Napoca: 95-93.

The leaders of U-BT were Daron Russell (27 points, 6 decisive passes), Mitch Creek (22 points, 6 recovery), Dusan Miletic (13 points, 8 recovery), Jefffery Taylor (10 points) and Nathan Mensah (9 points, 9 recovery).

On the other side, Aek Athens remarked Adonis Arms (22 points, 6 recovery), Cristopher Silva (22 points, 6 recovery), Marco Pecarski (11 points) and Frank Bartley IV (11 points).

On Tuesday, September 9, at 7:00 pm, CS Vâlcea 1924, the host of the training tournament, will take place with Aek Athens.

Mihai Silvășan: “Our team started to show its character and reason why it was built”

A match with a very good band in which our team began to show its character and reason why it was built, even if we are only at the second match in Presezon. I am extremely proud of the way we evolved, even if this is not necessarily the basketball we want to play.

Given the conditions, with Molin and Mensah in one leg, with Richard, Guzman and Altite unavailable, we changed the strategy a little and tried to slow down. Even so, we managed to win a match with a very good team, with high quality players and I am extremely happy for this.

We rest, we go ahead and see each training, every match of this period, for an opportunity to be better. Follow the tournament in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where I wish to have all the players apt and continue the positive trajectory

– Mihai Silvășanaccording to the official website of U-BT Cluj-Napoca

U-BT Cluj-Napoca's program in September

• September 13 vs. Kk Igokea

• September 15 vs. BC Nizhny Novgorod

• September 20 vs. CSO Voluntari (Romanian Super Cup)

• September 22 vs. Kk mega basket

• September 24 Vs. Subotic spartak