The "Blues" thus took some revenge on the Romanian team for the painful defeat three days ago in the round of 16 of the Eurocup, and they also defeated tonight's rival for the first time after three consecutive failures.
Buducnost is now at 15-4, and Cluj is at 10-8.
Andrej Žakelj's team had everything in their hands after the first half and an 18-point lead, but then allowed their rivals to come back and turn things around midway through the fourth quarter. However, in a dramatic finale, they managed to avoid the worst-case scenario and preserve an important victory, primarily in terms of self-confidence.
The guests took the lead 1:0 and 4:2. The Montenegrin champion turned the game around with a 9:0 run through Axel Butej and Jogi Ferrell to 11:4. The opponent's run was interrupted by Fat Russell with a three-pointer for 11:7. A new surge followed, namely a new run by Podgorica's team 12:0 for 22:7. Buducnost had a huge 17-point lead in the seventh minute – 27:10, but Cluj responded with seven consecutive points – 27:17.
In just two minutes of play in the second quarter, Skylar Mays scored seven points in a row and restored his team to the 17-point lead from the end of the first quarter – 36:19. The guests managed to reduce the score to 42:31 and 44:33.
When Rashid Sulajmon scored for 51:33, it seemed that the "blues" were heading for a convincing and easy triumph. However, Cluj reduced the lead to (55:44) by halftime, and at the start of the second half, it approached a single-digit minus – 55:46. After that, Ferel tied four points for 63:50, but the guests managed to get closer again with a 6:0 series to 70:64, and the Montenegrin champion entered the decisive period with a plus seven – 73:66.
Cluj went on an 8:2 run to come within just half a point of a deficit – 75:74 after a three-pointer by Patrick Neil Richard, and after a three-pointer by Russell it was tied – 77:77 with exactly six minutes left.
Sulajmon hit a tough shot for 79:77, but then on the other side Dušan Miletić hit a three-pointer for a complete turnaround – 80:79 and Cluj's first lead since the initial 4:2. Sulajmon then managed three shots and converted two to regain the minimal lead – 81:80 with 4.16 left. The hero from the first match, Iverson Molinar, hit both penalties on the other side for 82:81, and then Butsiel was half-full from the penalty spot for a new tie, only for Sulajmon to hit a very important three-pointer from the corner (on a pass from Ferrell) for 85:82 with 120 seconds left. After Sivasan's timeout, the guests scored quickly – 85:84. Sulajmon took responsibility and scored with a foul, and then converted an additional shot for a two-possession advantage – 88:84 a minute and a half before the end. The drama didn't end there, either, as Karel Guzman hit a three-pointer to make it 88:87. Ferrell was sure of it from the penalty spot – 90:87. Guzman missed a three-pointer to tie the game, and Đorđije Jovanović quickly scored from under the basket – 92:87. Miletić reduced the lead from an offensive rebound to 92:89 with 30 seconds left. After a timeout by Žakelj, the Podgorica team lost the ball, but luckily for them, the guests "sold" their possession.
With 14 seconds left, there was even a scuffle on the court between players from both teams, even pushing, so security had to intervene. A ten-minute break followed, a technical foul was called on the Cluj bench, and Woodbury and Jovanović were ejected. Sulajmon hit a shot for 93:89, and then Morgan was halfway from the penalty spot, and this real drama ended…
The winner's most efficient player was Rashid Sulaiman with 22 points. He was followed by Skylar Mays with 18 (11 in the third quarter), Juwan Morgan with 13, Axel Butey with 12 and Yogi Ferrell with 11 points.
Karel Guzman stood out for Cluj with 19 points. Fat Russell (16), Mitchell Creek and Trey Woodbury (13 each) also scored in double figures. Dušan Miletić added nine points, but had 14 rebounds and six assists.
The future awaits Dubai in the next round, on March 21st.
