“We play for each other and that helps a lot”

Ashley Davis2 weeks ago

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Article by David Istrate – Published on Monday, 25 May 2026 23:33 / Updated on Monday, 25 May 2026 23:34

Nighael Ceaser (26 years old) and Daron Russell (28 years old), the players of U-BT Cluj-Napoca, spoke to GSP.ro about the final of the National Men's Basketball League with CSM CSU Oradea. The first two games will be played in Oradea, on May 26 and 28 respectively, and Mihai Silvășan's team is trying to get the 6th title in a row.

For the 4th consecutive season, U-BT Cluj-Napoca and CSM CSU Oradea meet in the final of the championship. The series is played according to the “best of 5 matches” format, and Bihoren have the home field advantage.

Nighael Ceaser, the pivot of U-BT Cluj-Napoca: “It would be a great achievement to win the title”

The two teams also met in the Romanian Cup, where the black and white won 85-84, managing to win their second trophy of the season after the Romanian Super Cup. U-BT also has the record of the finals on its side, winning all the duels with CSM Oradea in the last act of a competition.

“I am excited to play Oradea again. In the Cup it was fun so it will be a nice series. We are closer to achieving our goal. Oradea is a good team. They have talent, they have experience and they are used to the playoffs, so we will not underestimate them. They are a good team, capable of winning games and we have to play as well as we can,” said Nighael Ceaser, a player with averages of 9 points and 7 rebounds, for GSP.ro.

U-BT has a 10-0 record in domestic competitions played this season. Asked what is the key to success, the pivot of the “students” answered as follows:

“I think a big part of it was the team chemistry. The fact that we can play for each other and with each other. This time of year, things are complicated physically and we have to find other motivation. We play for each other and that helps a lot.”

At the end, Ceaser revealed what it would mean for him to win the national title in Romania. “That would be a great achievement. Because it is a trophy, everyone is fighting for the title. That would be a wonderful achievement“, explained the American.

Daron Russell, one of the best players of U-BT Cluj-Napoca this season/Photo: aba-liga.com

Daron Russell: 'We're ready to give the fans what they want, which is a title'

U-BT's best passer in the National League playoffs was Daron Russell, averaging 15 points and 7 assists. About the series with CSM Oradea, he said the following:

“I know it will be difficult, especially since we are playing in Oradea. We also played in the Cup, and their fans came, they were noisy, they shouted at us, but this helped us get an idea. I think we are ready and we can't wait for some exciting matches.”

“Fatts” believes that the batch itself is U-BT's main asset.

“I think the length of our bench, we have a lot of players, they can play 9 or 10 sometimes. I think that helps us play a lot of tough games. We also have good players at every position and as the series goes on we will get stronger“, explained Russell, who admitted that he was very tired.

“Honestly, I'm exhausted. There were many matches, certainly over 50. 57? We traveled a lot around the world, but we're ready to give the fans what they want, that is, a title. I think we're all in agreement and focused on that goal,” added the defender of the Romanian national team, for GSP.ro.

At the press conference held before the match with SCM U Craiova, Russell spoke about refereeing and hinted that the game is allowed more freely in the National League. When asked if this manner of refereeing benefits their style of play, the 28-year-old basketball player answered as follows:

“Yes, I think so. We adapt to the way the referees whistle. We've got physical guys like Jeff (nr Taylor), Mitch (nr Creek) and Nighael, players who can play hard so I think that helps us, but we'll have to adapt.”