He inspired Cluj's comeback win at Neptunas
Fatts Russell already looks right at home in the EuroCup
Artículo
3 Min lectura
Regular Season
Round 2 of 18
Regular Season
group a
Neptunas KlaipedaNEP
102107
U-BT Cluj-NapocaUBT
group a
Overview
l
l
w
l
Fatts Russell has hit the ground running in the BKT EuroCup, delivering a standout performance in just his second game to lead U-BT Cluj-Napoca to a thrilling 102-107 road win over Neptunas Klaipeda. The dynamic guard erupted in the second half, finishing with 37 points along with 5 assists and a 38 PIR as his team grabbed its first victory of the season.
Cluj struggled to find momentum and backcourt production in the first half, falling behind by 17 points in the second quarter. However, late in the half, Russell started to do his thing and helped cut into the deficit. Having scored 10 points in the opening 20 minutes, Russell returned with authority after the interval, scoring 27 second-half points and hitting 5 three-pointers.
His quick first step proved a real challenge for defenders, often drawing fouls and sending Cluj to the free-throw line. Beyond his ability to attack the rim with ease, Russell’s three crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter were key in Cluj securing the win.
In the postgame interview, Russell reflected on the game, saying: "It was a tough game in which they made a lot of three-point shots. We battled hard, especially in the second half, and I'm just happy we came out with the win.’’
Coach Mihail Silvasan also praised the American player’s performance in the postgame press conference, stating: ‘‘It’s obvious that he was amazing. I hope he will be the MVP of the Round, because we won the game.’’
Another key contributor to the win was Nathan Mensah, who posted a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. After the victory, the Ghanaian center reflected on the team’s effort, noting: ‘‘We started slow but as things went on we had to channel our inner strength to play. Even if we had a smaller rotation, that was no excuse to give this game away. Winning this game means a lot for our future in EuroCup, so this was a point of emphasis for the team."
Cluj’s triumph, inspired by an MVP-like performance by Russell, showed what this team is capable of in the EuroCup. Now, Coach Silvasan's side will look to build on this momentum when it takes on Slask Wroclaw — again on the road — in Round 3.