The semi-final clash between Budućnost Voli and Dubai is increasingly certain, and in order to secure new clashes with the Euroleague team in the ABA League, the Podgorica team must once again defeat the team that has given them a tough task this season.
"Blues" took on Cluj on Tuesday at the "M:tel Morača Hall", taking a 1:0 lead in the quarterfinal series, and now in Romania they want to finish the job of placing among the top four teams in the regional competition.
The current vice-champion will be visiting the "BT Arena" on Friday at 19 p.m. and their only goal is to end the series, although everyone expects the job to be harder than it was at the start of the playoffs.
"I'm sure we're in for a completely different game. Cluj plays better at home, the players are tougher and faster. We have to be ready for that, but above all we need to be more focused and tough, to have more continuity, especially in terms of defensive play. That's exactly what we worked on after the first game," said Buducnost coach Andrej Žakelj.
Buducnost had problems in the first game, but successfully resolved them with a better game in the second half when they forced their rivals to take more difficult shots with their defense.
Zoran Nikolić was excellent with 18 points, Aksel Butej scored two less, while Džuvan Morgan finished with 14, with nine rebounds and five assists.
"I expect it to be tough and competitive. The first match was also at a high level, and the difference in the end was made by our aggressive defense, rebound control, ability to keep the opponent on one attack, as well as stopping their guards in transition," says Morgan.
The future is ready to impose its own rhythm.
"I believe the next game will be very similar. I expect Cluj to come out even more aggressive, with the desire to attack the rim more to open up space for three-point shots. I think we did a good job in the first game in closing down their shooters and I believe they will try to create more open positions for them now," said Morgan.
In Cluj, they know that this is the match on which the continuation of the season depends, and they even want to show that they are "the best team in the ABA, excluding the Euroleague teams."
"We have a decisive match ahead of us, but it's nothing new for us, we've had matches like that this season. I told the players that we have to do everything, first of all for the fans, who support us all the time. We owe it to them, but we also owe it to ourselves to prove that we are the best team in the ABA League, not counting the three Euroleague teams. We have a very strong opponent in front of us, a very physically capable team that is ready to cause problems," said Cluj coach Mihai Silvasan.
Buducnost defeated Cluj all three times this season in the ABA League, but faltered in a game that was much more important at that moment - in the round of 16 of the Eurocup, when the Romanians celebrated in the middle of Podgorica and destroyed the dreams of Andrej Žakelj's team to go far in European competition.
"We are playing for the fifth time this season, we know each other very well and we know what we need to do on the court. Maybe we can show something new, try to surprise our rivals, but more importantly, we have to go out on the court with the right character," points out Iverson Molinar, one of Cluj's best players.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
