With five games down in Romania’s Divizia A finals, not only has U Mobitelco BT Cluj-Napoca come to within one win of snatching the title from six-time defending champs CSU Asesoft Ploiesti, they could also tonight hand the celebrated franchise its most ignominious defeat ever: The club’s *first-ever playoff series defeat.* Reports BallinEurope’s man in Romania, Ari Micinic of TotalBaschet.ro:
On Saturday, CSU Asesoft Ploiesti played host to U Mobitelco BT Cluj-Napoca. The home team won by the score of 68-56 to move the series back to Cluj-Napoca. U Mobitelco now leads the best-of-seven series three games to two.
Asesoft held on to an 11-point advantage gained in the first quarter of the game played at Olimpia Sports Hall in Ploiesti. Former University of Houston Cougar/Deutsche Bank Skyliner Calhoun Qarraan had the game-high point total with 20. Levente Szijarto added 14, while Catalin Burlacu finished with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in a winning effort.
Kyndall Dykes had 17 points and 7 rebounds, while Branko Cuic added 11 points for Cluj.
The series is in Cluj-Napoca for Game 6 of the Divizia A finals. Tonight’s match is decisive for Asesoft, a team that has never lost a playoff series.
Game 7, if necessary, would be played this weekend.
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