Ploiesti takes Romanian three peat

CSU Asesoft Ploiesti continued to command Romanian Basketball with a 100-94 home win over CSM Oradea in the decisive fifth game of the final. The club used home court advantage to secure its third successive Liga Nationala title and a 10th since 2004, a reign of dominance in Romania that looks unlikely to be snapped any time soon.

CSU Asesoft Ploiesti vs. CSM Oradea, 100-94
A high scoring first period did nothing to separate the teams as both sides sent 28 points through the net and onto the board. It was clear in the opening ten minutes that Ploiesti and Oradea were hoping to swamp each other, but as the first break landed the score was locked at 28-28. The second quarter followed in the same vein as the first as neither team could make a significant breakthrough. However, the visitors had managed to claw a small 1 point lead at half time, with the scoreboard reading 47-48. In another tight frame in the third Ploiesti reversed the deficit by scoring 23 points and holding Oradea to 21 to lead 70-69 with the fourth to come. The hosts finally put some daylight between the teams during a stellar fourth stanza that saw Ploiesti sink 30 points to win the game and another title.

Alhaji Mohammed scored a game high 27 points for the winning effort, while Gerald Lee logged 25 and Catalin Burlacu hit 15 points.

Radovan Markovic paced Oradea to a first half lead and scored 21 points, with William Franklin following with 15 points.