All the good things that the "blues" did in the group stage, winning home-court advantage for the first time in the round of 16, were wasted tonight in the most important match of the season, in which there was no room for error. It was as if the pressure from the favorites was an additional burden for Nikola Tanasković and his teammates that they were unable to cope with.
Cluj emerged victorious against Podgorica for the third time in as many matches, and the same rivals will meet on Saturday at the same venue in the third round of the Top8 phase of the ABA League.
The guests led throughout the match, and already in the opening quarter they had a big 14-point advantage – 27:13. Buducnost managed to get to 29:22 at the beginning of the second quarter, and after Aksel Butej's points, to 37:32. However, then the unstoppable Iverson Molinar and former Mariners player, Fats Russell, came into play, so Cluj had a difference of 16 on two occasions in this period, and a significant 14 at the break (52:38).
Halfway through the third period, the Romanian representative gained a 19-point advantage for the first time in the game after two turnovers by Jogi Ferel – 64:45. Andrej Žakelj's team did not give up, but with three-pointers by Rašid Sulajmon (who scored the first points in the 25th minute), Džuvan Morganan and Nikola Tanasković, they reduced the deficit to a single-digit difference – 70:61, which was the same after half an hour of basketball – 72:63.
Sulajmon continued where he left off in the third quarter, and after Djordjij Jovanovic scored a point from an offensive rebound, the "blues" approached only minus five - 72:67 with eight and a half minutes left. They were the Montenegrin champions two more times at the same deficit, and had an attack to further reduce the difference, but instead the opposite happened. Molinar took responsibility, scored seven points and returned the double-digit lead to his team - 84:72, and then it was clear that Cluj was the one going to the Bahçeşehir match, and Buducnost was ending its European journey.
The most efficient player in the victory was Iverson Molinar with 34 points. He was followed by Fat Russell with 20. Mitchell Creek added 13, Karel Guzman 10.
On the other side, Yogi Ferrell led the way with 17 points. Juwan Morgan (14) and Rashid Sulaiman (13, all in the following) also scored in double figures.
SWORD FLOW:
End of the game, Buducnost ingloriously ends its European journey in the round of 16, Cluj was a far better opponent tonight (100:82) and will face Bahçeşehir in the quarterfinals.
9′ Cluj reaches 100 points and a maximum difference of 21 – 79:100.
8′ After Guzman's three-pointer plus 20 for the first time in the game – 77:97.
8′ Cluj regains the maximum 19 points difference – 75:94.
7′ Molinar forced a foul on Sulajmon on a three-pointer at the end of the attack, and then made all three for plus 16 – 75:91. The team from Podgorica is facing elimination.
7′ Molinar doesn’t stop, 31 points Panama – 75:88.
7′ Sulajmon fought for the ball brilliantly, Ferrell hit a three-pointer, but it didn't count, because Butsiel committed a foul in the attack on Krik. Žakelj asked for a challenge, but the referees didn't change the decision.
6′ Russell uses both throws – 75:86.
6′ Morgan three-pointer for minus nine – 75:84.
5′ Seven consecutive points by Molinara – 72:84, on the other side, the line is not used by Butsiel. Five minutes left in the game.
4′ Five consecutive points from the unstoppable Molinar, Cluj again has a double-digit lead – 72:82. Timeout for Žakel.
3′ Ferrell safe from the penalty spot both times – 72:77. Seven and a half minutes until the end of the match.
3′ Guzman now takes responsibility, his new points – 70:77.
2′ Guzman's three-pointer for plus eight – 67:75. Solomon returns –70:75.
2′ Jovanović scores after an offensive rebound – 67:72.
2′ Two misses in a row by Molinara.
2′ Sulajmon scores past Miletić for minus seven – 65:72.
1′ Buducnost has momentum that they must use and get even closer to their opponent.
1′ The decisive 10 minutes have begun, hopefully not the last for the Montenegrin champions in Europe this season. The visitors have the first possession.
THIRD QUARTER:
10′ Morgan gets a technical foul, which angers the home fans. Russell misses a shot and then misses a three-pointer. After half an hour of basketball, the visitors lead by nine points – 63:72.
10′ Morgan dunks after Ferrell's assist – 63:72.
10′ Russell breaks up this rush from the opponent, previously Tanasković had a shot to further reduce the gap – 61:72.
9′ Here's Tanasković's three-pointer that "ignited" Morača, finally Buducnost is in a single-digit deficit - 9:0 series - 61:70.
9′ Now a three-pointer by Sulajmon, already eight in this period for minus 12 and "forcing" Simakan into a timeout – 58:70. Two minutes left in the third quarter.
8′ Morgan's three-pointer, his five points in a row 55:70Can Buducnost make a run and bring uncertainty into the match?
7′ Morgan's hard shot over the arm, but points, however Molinar easily scores on the other side – 52:70. Another minute of rest was called by Žakelj, who was angry with his players.
6′ Fifth consecutive point for Sulajmon – 50:66.
7′ Lucky points Molinara – 48:66.
6′ Rashid Sulejman's first points of the game – he hit a three-pointer – 48:64.
5′ After two turnovers by Ferel, Cluj goes to a maximum plus 19 halfway through the third quarter – 45:64.
4′ Ferrell scores from half-distance – 45:60.
4′ Molinara's three-pointer, Cluj has a 17-point lead for the first time – 43:60.
4′ Tanasković "fixes" Kovlijar's miss from an offensive rebound for the fifth consecutive point – 43:57.
2′ A half-hearted screamer from the penalty spot, then a dunk by Molinar for a record plus 16 – 41:57.
1′ Miletić opens the game with points, on the other side a three-pointer by captain Nikola Tanasković – 41:54.
End of the first half – Cluj goes into the break with a 14-point lead, which it had on several occasions during the first half (sometimes plus 16) – 38:52. Buducnost will have to be much better in defense and offense if it wants to advance to the quarterfinals.
SECOND QUARTER:
10′ Ferel oba could have given the penalty – 38:52. Timeout for the Cluj bench.
9′ Taylor missed an open three-pointer for plus 19…
9′ Dušan Miletić scores under the basket after a pass from Russell – 36:52.
9′ Butsiel safe from the line of scrimmage both times – 36:50.
8′ Molinar two of two from penalties, Cluj has a 16-point lead for the first time, and has already scored 50 points, two minutes before halftime – 34:50.
7′ Guzman's floater to return to maximum plus 14 –34:48.
6′ Morgan scores from the penalty spot, but on the other side Woodbury scores another three-pointer – 34:46.
5′ Russell hit all three free throws after a successful challenge, restoring his team's double-digit lead – 32:43.
5′ Russell's third three-pointer, after extra possession – 32:40.
3′ Butej three of three from the penalty spot after being fouled on a three-point shot – 32:37.
3′ Woodbury secure from half-distance – 29:37.
3′ After points from Axel Butey and James Thompson, the "blues" approach minus six – 29:35. The Cluj coach requested a timeout.
2′ Mays answers with his second three-pointer – 25:32.
1′ Woodbury hits a three-pointer to return to a double-digit lead – 22:32.
1′ Juvan Morgan opens the second period with a dunk after a pass from Kovlijar – 22:29.
1′ The second half has begun.
FIRST QUARTER:
The end of the first quarter was won by the away team 20:29. In the end, one could even say it was a good result from Buducnost's point of view, as the rival had a 14-point lead and an attack in the eighth minute.
10′ Skylar Mays' three-pointer cuts the deficit to single digits – 20:29.
9′ Four consecutive points by Jerry Butsiel, who stops the rival's run – 17:27. First he hit a pass from Oleksander Kovlijar, then he missed both shots, but "recovered" from the racket after the extra possession.
8′ Molinar secures both penalties for a new maximum advantage – 13:27.
7′ New three-pointer for Krik, who is already at 10 points, and Cluj has a maximum difference of 12 – 13:25. Andrej Žakelj requested a time-out.
7′ Sizer dunk for plus nine – 13:22.
7′ Another three-pointer by Jovanović in the seventh minute – 13:20.
6′ Molinar is accurate from half-distance, Cluj is on a double-digit lead – 10:20.
5′ Russell is unstoppable, his second three-pointer in a row, previously Ferrell continued his streak – 10:18.
5′ New three-pointer for the Romanians – former Mariners basketball player Fats Russell hits it from outside the 6.75 line for plus seven – 8:15.
4′ Mitchell Creek is already at seven points – 8:12.
4′ Five consecutive points by Yogi Ferrell – 8:9.
2′ The first points for Buducnost tonight were scored by Đorđije Jovanović, who hit a long-range three-pointer. Molinar responded with the same measure on the other side – 3:7.
2′ Cluj started well, the guests are leading 0:4
1′ The match has just started.
18.29 Cluj has won both previous meetings between the two teams in 2023, also in the Eurocup. In Romania it was 89:74, in Podgorica 79:77. Interestingly, the same rivals will meet again on Saturday in the third round of the Top 8 phase of the ABA League.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Everything is ready for the match of the season – tonight at 7 pm at "Morača", Budućnost Voli welcomes Cluj in the round of 16 of the Eurocup.
The "Blues" want to finally overcome the first hurdle in the knockout phase of this competition, and for the first time in the new format, they have home court advantage, which could be a key advantage.
The winner of this duel in the quarterfinals will face Bahçeşehir, who, together with Hapoel, won a direct place in the top eight from Group A.
You can watch a more detailed match announcement and statements from Andrej Žakelj and Nikola Tanasković HERE.
Follow the match live in text broadcast on the TV PG portal.
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