“A match fit for a final”

After two matches in which he easily passed CSA Steaua Bucharest and CS Dinamo Bucharest, the match with CSM CSU Oradea, in the final of the Romanian Cup, looked totally different. The Bihors offered a solid response to the Romanian champion, took advantage of its modest defense and fought until the last seconds for the victory.

In the end, just like in the 2025 National League final, U-BT Cluj-Napoca also came out victorious, score 85-84after a decisive free throw converted by Daron Russell, the visitors' top scorer.

Mihai Silvășan, after winning the final: “Congratulations to the Oradia team for the fight”

So, U-BT Cluj-Napoca won the Romanian Cup for the 7th time, and Mihai Silvășan triumphed in the 17th final of his coaching career, keeping his record immaculate.

“A game as befits a final, very contested. I tried all week to make the boys understand that it was not going to be easy. Some of them, playing in two different competitions and slightly stronger than the National League, tended to be a bit shallow. But it was my job to tell them and make them feel that it won't be easy, especially in a final with Oradea, in which I have a lot of experience here at their home. We definitely knew that they would not give up and they would really want to win the trophy and we will have to be ready for that. I congratulate the Oradea team for the fight”, said the 41-year-old technician.

“Each of the two teams could help their trophy. I think it was a good match for basketball. And, what can I say, I'm glad again that we came out victorious and added a new cup to the team's record,” Silvășan added.

Asked if the match was more balanced than expected, given that it was decided in the last phase, the coach from Cluj answered as follows:

“No. Of course, we could have closed the game a little earlier at that stage (not a last-minute drive that Mitch Creek fouled). I didn't expect us to dominate them, I didn't expect us to win by 20 points. Obviously, I wanted, every coach wants to have no emotions at the end. But it's the final. I have been through a lot of finals and in one match it is very difficult to predict a score. It's not like everyone thinks that, well, we're already winners and we're winning by 20 points. Not by a long shot. I didn't think about that. And I think it would have been totally wrong to expect a clear victory from this match.”

Mihai Silvășan: “What would the final be like if there was no tension and a certain level of pressure?”

During the game, Silvășan had several moments in which he allowed himself to be led by impulses and nervously scolded his players. After the match, freed from the pressure of the result, he explained that the tension is normal in a final.

“The tension of a final is there. It's a final and what would a final be if there wasn't tension and a certain level of pressure? It's part of the game, it's part of the sport and it's one of the reasons sports are beautiful. Especially team sports. I wanted my team to be at its best. I certainly wasn't at my best. I made a lot of mistakes. But in the end, winners find a way to come out on top no matter what it happens regardless of what problems we have during a game”, said Silvășan.

At the end, the coach in his 10th season on the bench of U-BT Cluj-Napoca talked about what this Cup means.

“A new trophy. You see, our mentality is to win every competition we enter here nationally. We are happy that we managed to win the Romanian Cup. Last year we did not succeed in this and we really wanted to bring it to Cluj again.

We did it, let's move on. There is a mini-holiday for most of the players, that is, for those who do not go to the national teams, in which they need to rest and recover physically and mentally. After which we start over and move on”, Silvășan concluded.