U-BT Cluj-Napoca, crucial victory in the EuroCup, after an extra time with Umana Reyer Venezia

After 4 consecutive trips, U-BT Cluj-Napoca returned to BTarena for a derby with Umana Reyer Venetia, which was played in front of 7962 spectators. The two formations offered an honorable duel, which ended after two overtime periods.

U-BT Cluj-Napoca, victory after a long suffering in the second part of the match in BTarena

The Romanian champion had an excellent start to Wednesday's duel, scoring the first 7 points and challenging Neven Spahija to quickly use his first time-out. Unlike the previous matches, the “students” dominated the recovery battle, both offensively and defensively, and took control of the game.

The visitors looked outmatched by U-BT's attacking force, who shot very well and from long range, at one point having a percentage of over 50%. As a result, at halftime, Mihai Silvășan's team was leading 56-44.

After returning from the locker room, U-BT couldn't find solutions either in attack or defense, and the difference gradually narrowed. Venice showed a very good collective game and they stopped Iverson Molinar and Daron Russell, the main weapons of the “students”.

In addition, Transylvania made a lot of mistakes, this being the main weakness of the hosts. In the end, after a development with many twists and turns, the game went into overtime, where U-BT Cluj-Napoca prevailed, thanks to two free kicks converted in cold blood by Iverson Molinar: 103-102.

The leaders of the black and white were Iverson Molinar (22 points), Daron Russell (18 points, 6 assists), Dusan Miletic (17 points, 13 rebounds) and Karel Guzman (17 points, 10 rebounds).

On the other side, RJ Cole (20 points, 7 assists), Jordan Parks (18 points, 8 rebounds), Kyle Wiltjer (14 points), Chris Horton (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Denzel Valentine (10 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds) stood out.

Final. U-BT Cluj-Napoca – Umana Reyer Venice, in BKT EuroCup: 103-102

Final match. 103-102. Umana Reyer Veneția could not score in time, and U-BT Cluj-Napoca won.
Min. 45. 103-102. With less than a second left, Molinar got two free throws and converted both.
Min. 45. 101-102. With 7.9 seconds left in the game, the visitors lead by one point. Time-out for black and white.
Min. 45. 99-99. Guzman, U-BT's “hero”, scores from long range to equalize.
Min. 44. 96-99. Venice distanced itself to 5 points, but Molinar reduced the gap after a penetration. Possession of Cluj.
Min. 42. 94-94. The tie is maintained in the BTarena.
The start of the extra half.

End of regular time. 89-89. Molinar drew a foul, scored both free throws and sent the game into overtime.
Min. 40. 87-89. Patrick Richard, the home team's captain, took the action on his own and missed, and Venice scored once more from outside the half-circle.
Min. 40. 87-86. Kyle Wiltjer scores an extremely important “triple” for the visitors. It's Silvășan's turn to ask for a time-out, the 40-year-old coach being extremely nervous.
Min. 39. 83-82. After an excellent defense from Cluj, Russell was penalized with a personal foul and the referees are booed by the whole hall. Also, the black and white coach vehemently contested the decision. Entering the final minute, U-BT leads 87-83. Rest time requested by the Italians.
Min. 38. 80-82. Silvășan's players can no longer find their way to the basket. The guests, in advantage.
Min. 36. 80-79. Mistakes continue for U-BT and Venice get back to within a point.
Min. 34. 75-76. Denzel Valentine scores from outside the half-circle and the Italians take the lead.
Min. 32. 73-70. Spahija's students cut the gap in half after a long basket by Jordan Parks.
The start of the decisive act.

End of quarter 3. 71-65. U-BT pulls back by two possessions and an intense scramble ensues.
Min. 28. 67-65. Venice is closing in on 2 points from the Romanian champions, and Mensah is replaced. Hard times for the Romanian champion.
Min. 26. 67-59. The difference of 8 points is maintained.
Min. 24. 62-54. Russell takes more action on his own and doesn't score and Venice closes to 8 points. U-BT timeout.
Min. 22. 58-49. Encouraging start for the Italians, who quickly get two offensive rebounds.
Start of the 3rd quarter.

Jeffery Taylor says NO ⛔️@UBTCluj | #RoadToGreatness pic.twitter.com/X7pi8ZGgra

— BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) October 22, 2025

At halftime, U-BT Cluj-Napoca dominates Umana Reyer Venetia in a chapter where it has been very bad so far, that of rebounds. The Romanian champions lead 24-12 in total rebounds and 11-3 in offensive rebounds.

The end of the first half. 56-44. Russell and Guzman lead U-BT's offense, which enters the locker room with a 12-point lead.
Min. 19. 51-44. The guests do not give up, but constantly attack, being extremely aggressive. Venice is closing in on 7 points and “Silva” is asking for a rest.
Min. 16. 46-37. Better minutes for U-BT. The “Students” defend excellently, and Taylor rebounds offensively, giving more possessions to his teammates.
Min. 14. 44-37. Back on the court, Mitch Creek immediately scores a 3-pointer. Woodbury follows suit.
Min. 12. 30-28. More mistakes for the black and whites, but they draw fouls and do their job from the free throw line.
The start of the second quarter.

End of quarter 1. 26-22. U-BT withstands Venice's onslaught and ends the opening act with the advantage, despite having 6 faults already.
Min. 8. 19-19. Mihai Silvășan's students continue to make mistakes, and he uses his first time-out, after the Italians equalized.
Min. 7. 19-13. Entering the field for a short time, Karel Guzman scores a basket from a distance and doubles the home team's advantage.
Min. 4. 9-7. Partial 7-2 achieved by Umana Reyer Venetia, after the rest time requested by Neven Spahija.
Min. 2. 7-0. U-BT Cluj-Napoca started the match excellently, scoring the first 7 points of the game, through Dusan Miletic, Trey Woodbury and Daron Russell. Time-out requested by guests.
Start of the match in the BTarena.