Cluj Napoca retains Romanian Cup

U-Banca Cluj Napoca is once again at the top of knock-out hoops in Romania after winning the National Cup for the second season in succession. The result was hardly a surprise as Cluj Napoca is also running away with the Liga Nationala Regular Season this campaign. Sitting pretty at the top of the standings, the club holds a 17-2 record, with three more wins than any other team.

Back to the cup, Cluj Napoca was made to work hard for the title as BC Mures pushed the defenders all the way, leaving the game finished on 79-78, the narrowest of wins for the champs.

Mures actually led through 10 minutes, with the visitors edging the frame with a 17-19 advantage. Cluj Napoca picked up the momentum in the second quarter and drained 28 points to wrestle control of the game. As they went into the locker room for the long break, the defending champions led 45-41.

However, Mures was still firmly in the game and showed why in the third act, using an excellent 12-20 rally to go back in control. Through thirty minutes the scoreboard read 57-61 with ten minutes to play. In the final frame the teams traded buckets, although the hosts had the better of the score. It went to the final nine seconds of the game before Aleksandar Rasic sank a jumper to define the contest.

Rasic finished on a game-high 21 points for the winners, while Vlad Moldoveanu managed 16 points, and Kyndall Dykes added 11 points.

Lamarcus Reed plundered 17 points for the losing effort, with Dalibor Djapa adding 14 points.