U-Banca Transilvania in a crucial battle vs. Tsmoki-Minsk
Even if many things can still happen in this very tied group of the Fiba Europe Cup, winning has to be the only option for the Romanian team today. In a case of a loss, things will complicate a lot for U-Banca Transilvania that’s why I trust them with the first chance against Tsmoki-Minsk. Here are the reasons for my pick:
- in the first round of the group, U-Banca Transilvania lost in Minsk with only 2 points and today with the crowd support from Cluj-Napoca the things can be very different. The hosts won all their games at home in this Fiba Europe Cup campaign, which makes them a difficult team.
- for Tsmoki-Minsk this encounter doesn’t have the same importance as for the host team, because they have accumulated a huge advantage against Ironi Nes-Ziona and CSM Oradea in a case of a tie. Tsmoki destroyed already both teams with a double-digit margin.
- Tsmoki travelled a lot and it will be more tired at the game-time. They were stuck in the plane together with other passengers for 3 hours after landing in Cluj-Napoca airport because of a medical control related to coronavirus. The flight came from Warsaw and inside the plane, a person was suspected of having previous exposure to the virus.
- Artis Ate is back at the work with the Romanian team, which gives them a larger rotation. The Latvian forward had a small injury and was rested during the last game in the domestic league.
It is a very balanced game and each team has their chances to win, but in the end, the victory is meaning a lot for U-Banca Transilvania, while for the visitors a loss is not the end of the world. The team from Belarus has next weak the qualifiers on their hands when they will host the other Romanian team from the group, CSM Oradea.
Photo: Fiba Europe Cup
Gratian Cormos
