Radio România Internațional

Tag: basketball

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    Romanian men’s basketball team U-BT Cluj Napoca as an
    absolute first has advanced to the Champions league’s quarterfinals. Also a
    first-timer in the League, U-BT Cluj Napoca came in first at the top Group K,
    with 7 points. Following in descending order were Spain’s Unicaja Malaga, with
    6 points and Belgian team Filou Oostende, with 5 points. In their most recent fixture-BT
    secured an 85-74 win in Oostende. The quarterfinal draw will
    be held on March 25th.


    Also in news from basketball, The International University
    Sports Federation has extended an invitation to Romania’s women’s and men’s
    national teams for their participation this summer to the World University
    Games in Chengdu. 1981 was the year when the Romanian women’s and men’s national
    basketball teams last competed in the University Games, back then hosted by the
    Romanian capital city Bucharest. We recall that in 1981 the women’s basketball team
    stepped onto the third step of the podium, while the gold medal went to then the
    USSR; the USA won silver. At the 1983 edition of the World University
    Games in Edmonton, Canada, Romania’s women’s national squad succeeded a career-best
    win, walking away with the silver medal they won after a 61-83 defeat by the
    USA. In the group stage, Romanian had defeated the USA, 85-71. In the men’s
    version of the World University Games, after 1990, Romanian national squad’s
    best result occurred in Kazan, in 2013, when Romania came in 6th. The
    Universiade in Chengdu will be held over June 26 and July 7. Initially scheduled for 2021, the competition saw a one-year delay
    because of the Covid-19 pandemic.


    In news from football, Romania national team on Friday
    plays a friendly game against the similar team of Greece in Bucharest. It will
    be the national team’s debut training game ahead of the new competition season,
    where attention-grabbing is the 2022 edition of the Nations League. Then on Tuesday, Romania takes on Israel in Natanya. Romania’s national
    team head-coach Edward Iordanescu has summoned 25 footballers for the two friendly
    games. Of them, three footballers are national squad first-timers. One of them
    is Farul Constanta goalie Marian Aioani. The other
    one is center-back Radu Drăguşin, signed up by Juventus from Turin but currently
    on loan to Salernitana, while the third one is midfielder Octavian Popescu of FCSB.


    (EN)

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    Romanian
    tennis player Simona Halep has advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 Indian
    Wells tournament, an event with 8, 500, 000 USD in prize money. In the quarterfinals,
    Halep outclassed Croatia’s Petra Martic after 53 minutes of play, 6-1, 6-1. It
    was Simona Halep’s best match in the Californian tournament. Halep never lost her serve, and saved the three break-balls Martic created
    for herself. Also, Halep won no less than seven games to zero against her Croatian
    opponent. 24th-seeded Halep has thus secured a cheque worth almost
    344 thousand USD and 390 WTA points. In the semifinals, Halep goes against the
    tournament’s 3rd-seeded player, Poland’s Iga Świątek.


    In the first semifinal
    fixture of the Erste Liga regional ice hockey competition, ACSH Gheorghieni secured
    a 1-nil away win against Ferencváros Budapest. The return leg is also scheduled
    in Budapest. The semifinals are played according to the-best-in-seven- games system.
    In the other semifinal, defending champions Sport Club Miercurea-Ciuc face DEAC
    Debrecen. The first two matches are played on Friday and Saturday, on Sport
    Club Miercurea Ciuc’s court.


    CSM
    CSU Oradea men’s basketball team have wasted the opportunity to advance to the semi-finals
    of the FIBA Europe Cup. In the quarterfinals’ second leg, CSM CSU Oradea sustained
    a 60-71 home defeat by Danish opponents Bakken Bears. In the first leg, CSM CSU
    Oradea had also lost, 82-84. In 2021, CSM CSU Oradea have qualified for the
    competition’s Final Four tournament, coming in 3rd.


    In women’s
    handball, in two fixtures counting towards the National League’s 18th
    round, the first two teams had no problem securing their win. Top-of-the-table
    team Rapid Bucharest trounced Dunarea Braila, 33-22, and secured 45 points. Defending
    champions CSM Bucharest, the runner-up team according to the as-it-stands table,
    succeeded a 30-20 away win against SCM Deva. CSM have thus 44 points on their
    record sheet. With 36 points,
    Magura Cisnadie are 3rd-placed. Magura Cisnadie secured a 24-23 away win against
    SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea this past Wednesday.


    (EN)

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    Romanian
    tennis player Simona Halep has advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 Indian
    Wells tournament, an event with 8, 500, 000 USD in prize money. In the quarterfinals,
    Halep outclassed Croatia’s Petra Martic after 53 minutes of play, 6-1, 6-1. It
    was Simona Halep’s best match in the Californian tournament. Halep never lost her serve, and saved the three break-balls Martic created
    for herself. Also, Halep won no less than seven games to zero against her Croatian
    opponent. 24th-seeded Halep has thus secured a cheque worth almost
    344 thousand USD and 390 WTA points. In the semifinals, Halep goes against the
    tournament’s 3rd-seeded player, Poland’s Iga Świątek.


    In the first semifinal
    fixture of the Erste Liga regional ice hockey competition, ACSH Gheorghieni secured
    a 1-nil away win against Ferencváros Budapest. The return leg is also scheduled
    in Budapest. The semifinals are played according to the-best-in-seven- games system.
    In the other semifinal, defending champions Sport Club Miercurea-Ciuc face DEAC
    Debrecen. The first two matches are played on Friday and Saturday, on Sport
    Club Miercurea Ciuc’s court.


    CSM
    CSU Oradea men’s basketball team have wasted the opportunity to advance to the semi-finals
    of the FIBA Europe Cup. In the quarterfinals’ second leg, CSM CSU Oradea sustained
    a 60-71 home defeat by Danish opponents Bakken Bears. In the first leg, CSM CSU
    Oradea had also lost, 82-84. In 2021, CSM CSU Oradea have qualified for the
    competition’s Final Four tournament, coming in 3rd.


    In women’s
    handball, in two fixtures counting towards the National League’s 18th
    round, the first two teams had no problem securing their win. Top-of-the-table
    team Rapid Bucharest trounced Dunarea Braila, 33-22, and secured 45 points. Defending
    champions CSM Bucharest, the runner-up team according to the as-it-stands table,
    succeeded a 30-20 away win against SCM Deva. CSM have thus 44 points on their
    record sheet. With 36 points,
    Magura Cisnadie are 3rd-placed. Magura Cisnadie secured a 24-23 away win against
    SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea this past Wednesday.


    (EN)

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    Romanian men’s basketball team CSM CSU Oradea Wednesday
    night in Aaarhus sustained an 82-84 away defeat by Danish opponents Bakken Bears.
    The fixture counted towards the first leg of the FIBA
    Europe Cup’s quarterfinals. The return leg will be hosted by the Antonio Alexe sports hall in Oradea, on March 16. Initially,
    CSM CSU Oradea’s quarterfinal opponents was Turkish team Bahceşehir Koleji, but
    the schedule was changed because Russian team Avdotor Saratov was excluded from
    the competition,


    In news from men’s handball, Dinamo Bucharest sustained
    a 29-34 away defeat by Polish opponents Lomza Vive Kielce Wednesday night. It was Dinamo Bucharest’s last match counting towards the Champions League’s
    Group B. With 8 points on its record sheet and on a par with bottom-of-the table
    team Motor Zaporoje, Dinamo Bucharest thus ended its Champions League’s trail being
    7th-placed, the last-but-one position in Group B. The first two
    teams in descending order secure their straight qualification to the
    quarterfinals. The 3rd, the 4th and the 5th-placed teams will have
    to compete in playoff fixtures to advance to the League’s quarterfinals.


    In the second round of the WTA 1000 Indian Wells
    tournament, an event with 8,500,000 USD in prize money all told, the Romanian
    tennis players, 24th-seeded Simona Halep and 26th-seeded Sorana
    Cirstea take on Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, and
    Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia, respectively.


    Dinamo Bucharest football club has reached an agreement
    with Czech head-coach Dušan Uhrin junior. Uhrin will replace the Romanian Flavius
    Stoican. The Czech head-coach arrived in Bucharest on Wednesday and has already
    run an ice-breaking session for his trainees. We recall Dušan
    Uhrin junior     had been at the helm of Dinamo before, once, during the 2019-2020
    competition season and for a second time around, in 2021. Among the teams Dušan
    Uhrin junior had been at the helm of, before, there are Bohemians Prague, Mlada
    Boleslav, AEL Limassol, Dinamo Tbilisi, Viktoria Plzen, Dinamo Minsk, Slavia
    Prague, Politehnica Timişoara, CFR Cluj and Gaz Metan Mediaş. With Flavius
    Stoican at the helm, Dinamo ended the regular season on the 14th-position
    and will enter Group 2 with 9 points on its record sheet. In its debut match
    with Uhrin at the helm, Dinamo travels to Mioveni in the south, for an away
    fixture against Rapid Bucharest.

    (EN)


  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    Romanian men’s basketball team CSM CSU Oradea Wednesday
    night in Aaarhus sustained an 82-84 away defeat by Danish opponents Bakken Bears.
    The fixture counted towards the first leg of the FIBA
    Europe Cup’s quarterfinals. The return leg will be hosted by the Antonio Alexe sports hall in Oradea, on March 16. Initially,
    CSM CSU Oradea’s quarterfinal opponents was Turkish team Bahceşehir Koleji, but
    the schedule was changed because Russian team Avdotor Saratov was excluded from
    the competition,


    In news from men’s handball, Dinamo Bucharest sustained
    a 29-34 away defeat by Polish opponents Lomza Vive Kielce Wednesday night. It was Dinamo Bucharest’s last match counting towards the Champions League’s
    Group B. With 8 points on its record sheet and on a par with bottom-of-the table
    team Motor Zaporoje, Dinamo Bucharest thus ended its Champions League’s trail being
    7th-placed, the last-but-one position in Group B. The first two
    teams in descending order secure their straight qualification to the
    quarterfinals. The 3rd, the 4th and the 5th-placed teams will have
    to compete in playoff fixtures to advance to the League’s quarterfinals.


    In the second round of the WTA 1000 Indian Wells
    tournament, an event with 8,500,000 USD in prize money all told, the Romanian
    tennis players, 24th-seeded Simona Halep and 26th-seeded Sorana
    Cirstea take on Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, and
    Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia, respectively.


    Dinamo Bucharest football club has reached an agreement
    with Czech head-coach Dušan Uhrin junior. Uhrin will replace the Romanian Flavius
    Stoican. The Czech head-coach arrived in Bucharest on Wednesday and has already
    run an ice-breaking session for his trainees. We recall Dušan
    Uhrin junior     had been at the helm of Dinamo before, once, during the 2019-2020
    competition season and for a second time around, in 2021. Among the teams Dušan
    Uhrin junior had been at the helm of, before, there are Bohemians Prague, Mlada
    Boleslav, AEL Limassol, Dinamo Tbilisi, Viktoria Plzen, Dinamo Minsk, Slavia
    Prague, Politehnica Timişoara, CFR Cluj and Gaz Metan Mediaş. With Flavius
    Stoican at the helm, Dinamo ended the regular season on the 14th-position
    and will enter Group 2 with 9 points on its record sheet. In its debut match
    with Uhrin at the helm, Dinamo travels to Mioveni in the south, for an away
    fixture against Rapid Bucharest.

    (EN)


  • Sports flash

    Sports flash



    CSM Volei Alba Blaj have advanced to the semifinals of the CEV Cup in womens volleyball. CSM grabbed a 3-2 away win against French opponents Volero Le Cannet, The confrontation counted towards the quarterfinals second leg. In the first leg, CSM Volei Alba Blaj also won, 3-nil. In the semifinals, Alba Blaj face Turkish challengers Eczacibaşi Dynavit Istanbul, at home, on February 22, and away, on March 1st. CSM Volei Alba Blaj played the finals of all three European inter-club competitions, the Champions League, in 2018, the CEV Cup, in 2019 and the Challenge Cup in 2021. CSM Volei Alba Blaj lost all three final confrontations.



    In a fixture counting towards European Leagues group D, Romanian womens handball team SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea this past Wednesday sustained a 20-31 away defeat by Danish side Viborg. Both teams had already secured their qualification to the European Leagues quarterfinals. Viborg are at the top of the table in Group D, with 9 points, while SCM Ramnicu Valcea are the runner-up team with 7 points. 3rd and 4th placed are French team Chambray Touraine and the Hungarian team Vác, respectively, both with 2 points on their record sheet. This coming weekend will see the groups last two matches being played, as on Saturday, Viborg take on Chambray Touraine, while on Sunday, Vác face SCM Ramnicu Valcea.



    Also in news from womens handball, in a regular National League game, holders CSM Bucharest narrowly avoided a home defeat by Gloria Bistrița-Năsăud, also on Wednesday. At halftime the scoreboard displayed a 11-9 advantage for Gloria. In the second half, CSM Bucharest were better on the court, but were unable to secure the advantage. The match ended 23-all as in the last minute of play CSMs Cristina Neagu provided the equalizer. With 10 goals scored, Neagu was again CSMs best handballer. With 39 points in 14 games, Rapid Bucharest are at the top of the table. CSM are 2nd placed, with 35 points in 15 fixtures.



    In a game counting towards the 14th round of the National mens Basketball League, on Wednesday Dinamo Bucharest defeated Steaua, 88-78, in the all-time derby hosted by Dinamo Sports hall. With 21 points and 6 assists, Swedish player Carl Viktor Gaddefors was the most efficient basketball player. Steaua are 5th-placed according to the Leagues rankings, while Dinamo are 14th-placed. U BT Cluj-Napoca are at the top of the table.


    (EN)


    —–




  • Sports flash

    Sports flash



    CSM Volei Alba Blaj have advanced to the semifinals of the CEV Cup in womens volleyball. CSM grabbed a 3-2 away win against French opponents Volero Le Cannet, The confrontation counted towards the quarterfinals second leg. In the first leg, CSM Volei Alba Blaj also won, 3-nil. In the semifinals, Alba Blaj face Turkish challengers Eczacibaşi Dynavit Istanbul, at home, on February 22, and away, on March 1st. CSM Volei Alba Blaj played the finals of all three European inter-club competitions, the Champions League, in 2018, the CEV Cup, in 2019 and the Challenge Cup in 2021. CSM Volei Alba Blaj lost all three final confrontations.



    In a fixture counting towards European Leagues group D, Romanian womens handball team SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea this past Wednesday sustained a 20-31 away defeat by Danish side Viborg. Both teams had already secured their qualification to the European Leagues quarterfinals. Viborg are at the top of the table in Group D, with 9 points, while SCM Ramnicu Valcea are the runner-up team with 7 points. 3rd and 4th placed are French team Chambray Touraine and the Hungarian team Vác, respectively, both with 2 points on their record sheet. This coming weekend will see the groups last two matches being played, as on Saturday, Viborg take on Chambray Touraine, while on Sunday, Vác face SCM Ramnicu Valcea.



    Also in news from womens handball, in a regular National League game, holders CSM Bucharest narrowly avoided a home defeat by Gloria Bistrița-Năsăud, also on Wednesday. At halftime the scoreboard displayed a 11-9 advantage for Gloria. In the second half, CSM Bucharest were better on the court, but were unable to secure the advantage. The match ended 23-all as in the last minute of play CSMs Cristina Neagu provided the equalizer. With 10 goals scored, Neagu was again CSMs best handballer. With 39 points in 14 games, Rapid Bucharest are at the top of the table. CSM are 2nd placed, with 35 points in 15 fixtures.



    In a game counting towards the 14th round of the National mens Basketball League, on Wednesday Dinamo Bucharest defeated Steaua, 88-78, in the all-time derby hosted by Dinamo Sports hall. With 21 points and 6 assists, Swedish player Carl Viktor Gaddefors was the most efficient basketball player. Steaua are 5th-placed according to the Leagues rankings, while Dinamo are 14th-placed. U BT Cluj-Napoca are at the top of the table.


    (EN)


    —–




  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend




    SCM Timisoara this past Thursday secured a 97-87 home
    win against SCM ”U” Craiova. The fixture counted towards the first leg as part
    of the quarterfinals of Romanian Cup in men’s basketball. We recall SCM Timisoara
    had also faced SCM U Craiova five days ago, in a regular domestic championship fixture; the latter team won, 82-76. The second leg is scheduled in Craiova on December 29.
    Also as part of the quarterfinals’ first leg, this coming Monday Dinamo
    Bucharest plays a home game against U-BT Cluj-Napoca, while Athletic Neptun
    Constanța faces Municipal Galati, also on home court. CSO Voluntari receives the visit of CSU Sibiu, also on Monday.


    From Monday and all through to Wednesday, fixtures counting towards the
    Carpati Trophy in men’s handball will be played in Cluj. The Carpati Trophy is
    one of the longest-lasting domestic competitions in men’s handball. On Monday, Romania
    takes on Turkey. On Tuesday, Turkey is pitted against Iran, while on Wednesday Romania takes on Iran. For the Romanian men’s national handball team, starting
    January the 6th, 2022, qualifiers fixtures follow, counting towards
    the World Seniors’ Championship. The matches will also be hosted by the city of
    Cluj.


    The end-of-the-year International Football Federation classification
    in 2021 was made public on Thursday. The Romanian national team is 44th-placed,
    the same as in November 2021. Early into 2021 Romania was ranked 37th,
    yet in August it climbed 8 notches down, back then coming in 45th. For
    two months running Romania climbed up, but in November 2021 it climbed down
    again, from the 41st to the 44th position. For the fourth
    consecutive year Belgium is at the top of the table. Brazil, France, England
    and Argentina follow, in descending order.


    Romanian Football Federation talks have revealed that
    former international footballer Adrian Mutu is the main favourite to taking over
    the position of head-coach for the national football team. Adrian Mutu would
    therefore replace Mirel Radoi, whose contract with the Romanian Football Federation expired in November this year. Radoi did not renew the contract with
    the federation. Last week League One team CFR Cluj’s head-coach Dan Petrescu was
    still the main favourite for the position of national team head-coach.
    Eventually, Dan Petrescu decided to stay with his team, CFR Cluj.


    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)


    —–

  • Sports weekend

    Sports weekend




    SCM Timisoara this past Thursday secured a 97-87 home
    win against SCM ”U” Craiova. The fixture counted towards the first leg as part
    of the quarterfinals of Romanian Cup in men’s basketball. We recall SCM Timisoara
    had also faced SCM U Craiova five days ago, in a regular domestic championship fixture; the latter team won, 82-76. The second leg is scheduled in Craiova on December 29.
    Also as part of the quarterfinals’ first leg, this coming Monday Dinamo
    Bucharest plays a home game against U-BT Cluj-Napoca, while Athletic Neptun
    Constanța faces Municipal Galati, also on home court. CSO Voluntari receives the visit of CSU Sibiu, also on Monday.


    From Monday and all through to Wednesday, fixtures counting towards the
    Carpati Trophy in men’s handball will be played in Cluj. The Carpati Trophy is
    one of the longest-lasting domestic competitions in men’s handball. On Monday, Romania
    takes on Turkey. On Tuesday, Turkey is pitted against Iran, while on Wednesday Romania takes on Iran. For the Romanian men’s national handball team, starting
    January the 6th, 2022, qualifiers fixtures follow, counting towards
    the World Seniors’ Championship. The matches will also be hosted by the city of
    Cluj.


    The end-of-the-year International Football Federation classification
    in 2021 was made public on Thursday. The Romanian national team is 44th-placed,
    the same as in November 2021. Early into 2021 Romania was ranked 37th,
    yet in August it climbed 8 notches down, back then coming in 45th. For
    two months running Romania climbed up, but in November 2021 it climbed down
    again, from the 41st to the 44th position. For the fourth
    consecutive year Belgium is at the top of the table. Brazil, France, England
    and Argentina follow, in descending order.


    Romanian Football Federation talks have revealed that
    former international footballer Adrian Mutu is the main favourite to taking over
    the position of head-coach for the national football team. Adrian Mutu would
    therefore replace Mirel Radoi, whose contract with the Romanian Football Federation expired in November this year. Radoi did not renew the contract with
    the federation. Last week League One team CFR Cluj’s head-coach Dan Petrescu was
    still the main favourite for the position of national team head-coach.
    Eventually, Dan Petrescu decided to stay with his team, CFR Cluj.


    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)


    —–

  • December 23, 2021

    December 23, 2021

    REVOLUTION Romania’s Parliament convened this morning in a solemn
    meeting devoted to the 32 years since the anti-communist revolution of December
    1989. Originating in Timișoara (west), on 16th December, the uprising spread
    across the country, culminating with dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu fleeing the
    capital city on 22nd December amid the protests of hundreds of thousands of
    Romanians. Captured by the Army, Ceauşescu and his wife Elena were subject to a
    summary trial and executed in the southern town of Târgovişte. Romania was the
    only country behind the Iron Curtain where the change of regime was accompanied
    by bloodshed. Over 1,000 people were killed and some 3,000 wounded.


    BUDGET Romanian MPs are due to vote today on the draft state budget and
    social security budget laws for 2022. The government
    passed the bills on Monday and promised the budget ensures stability and
    predictability. The Liberal leader and ex-PM Florin Cîţu criticised the fact
    that 6.7% of GDP was earmarked for investments, instead of 7% as agreed within
    the ruling coalition. The Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu argued
    however that the budget execution is more important than the exact breakdown of
    expenditure. The leader of USR party in opposition, Dacian Cioloş, says the
    draft budget relies on over-estimated revenues and said although public
    education is a priority for President Iohannis, not enough funding has been
    earmarked for the sector.


    COVID-19 775 new SARS-CoV-2 infection cases were reported in the past 24 hours in Romania, along with 81 related
    fatalities, 44 of them from a previous date. Since the start of the pandemic
    Romania has had around 1.8 million COVID-19 cases,
    and more than 58,000 patients died. Amid
    anti-vaccine sentiments fuelled by some media, politicians and opinion leaders,
    the country has the 2nd lowest immunisation rate in the EU, after Bulgaria.


    EU
    FUNDING The government
    of Romania passed an emergency order allowing for the accessing of a roughly
    15-billion euro loan granted by the European Commission under the Recovery and
    Resilience Mechanism. The loan agreement between the European Commission and
    Romania was signed in Bucharest on 26th November and in Brussels on 15th
    December. Under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Romania benefits
    from some 29 billion euro, of which approx. 14 billion in non-reimbursable
    funds and some 15 billion in loans. The loan will be available until the end of
    2026.


    BASKETBALL The national men’s basketball champions, Universitatea-Banca
    Transilvania Cluj-Napoca, qualified into the second stage of the Champions
    League group matches, after defeating the Turkish side Daruşşafaka in a suspensefull
    match away from home, 103-101. The Romanian team is thus the leader of Group G,
    with 5 wins and one defeat. Group leaders go straight into the second stage of
    the competition, scheduled for January-March 2022. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    U-BT Cluj-Napoca Romanian basketball team has advanced
    to the second round of Champions League’s group stage. This past Wednesday, U-BT Cluj-Napoca grabbed a nail-biting 103-101 away win against Turkish
    challengers Daruşşafaka Istanbul. The win booked the Romanians the top position
    in Group G. With an 88-70 lead, on 32 minutes the host team was 18 points clear
    of their Romanian opponents. However, U-BT Cluj-Napoca managed a stunning
    comeback for the final part of the game. Two minutes from time Darussafaka had
    the lead, 101-94, but U-BT Cluj-Napoca scored nine points in a row, and won.
    First-timers in the Champions League, U-BT Cluj-Napoca had a group-stage record
    of five wins and one defeat. In Group G’s other fixture, Israeli team Hapoel
    Holon outperformed Italian opponents Happy Casa Brindisi, 84-80. If they want to make headway into the competition, Hapoel and Darușșafaka
    will have to compete in the playoffs.


    In news from rowing, Ancuta Bodnar has been
    designated the Best Athlete of the Year 2021 by her club Dinamo Bucharest. We recall
    that jointly with Simona Radis, Ancuta Bodnar won gold in the women’s double
    sculls race in the Tokyo Olympics. Simona Radis had previously been designated
    the best Athlete in 2021 by her club, Steaua Bucharest.


    The Romanian Volleyball federation this past Wednesday
    held a ceremony to mark 90 years since the Romanian Volleyball Federation has
    been set up. As part of the ceremony, awards went to the Romanian men’s line-up
    who in the 1980 won domestic volleyball’s only medal, bronze, at the Olympic
    Games in Moscow. Six former volleyball players attended the ceremony, of the
    line-up who won the medals 41 years ago. They are Constantin Stere, Nicu Stoian,
    Dan Gîrleanu, Marius Căta-Chiţiga, Gunther Enescu and Sorin Macavei.


    In news from domestic football, Flavius Stoican is the
    new Dinamo head-coach. We recall Stoican is a former Dinamo footballer of the early
    2000’s. Stoican had two previous stints as a Dinamo head-coach seven years ago.
    Flavious Stoican is in for Mircea Rednic, who took over on October 1st.
    Rednic’s record as a Dynamo head-coach was dismally unconvincing. With Mircea Rednic
    at the helm, Dinamo managed only one winning fixture, two draws and was
    defeated in seven games. One of the iconic footballers of Dinamo in the 1980s
    and the 1990s, Mircea Rednic’s most remarkable feat is the winning of the
    domestic title 14 years ago, in 2007. At present Dinamo is 15th-placed
    according to the domestic rankings, the last-but-one position in the as-it-stands
    table.


    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    U-BT Cluj-Napoca Romanian basketball team has advanced
    to the second round of Champions League’s group stage. This past Wednesday, U-BT Cluj-Napoca grabbed a nail-biting 103-101 away win against Turkish
    challengers Daruşşafaka Istanbul. The win booked the Romanians the top position
    in Group G. With an 88-70 lead, on 32 minutes the host team was 18 points clear
    of their Romanian opponents. However, U-BT Cluj-Napoca managed a stunning
    comeback for the final part of the game. Two minutes from time Darussafaka had
    the lead, 101-94, but U-BT Cluj-Napoca scored nine points in a row, and won.
    First-timers in the Champions League, U-BT Cluj-Napoca had a group-stage record
    of five wins and one defeat. In Group G’s other fixture, Israeli team Hapoel
    Holon outperformed Italian opponents Happy Casa Brindisi, 84-80. If they want to make headway into the competition, Hapoel and Darușșafaka
    will have to compete in the playoffs.


    In news from rowing, Ancuta Bodnar has been
    designated the Best Athlete of the Year 2021 by her club Dinamo Bucharest. We recall
    that jointly with Simona Radis, Ancuta Bodnar won gold in the women’s double
    sculls race in the Tokyo Olympics. Simona Radis had previously been designated
    the best Athlete in 2021 by her club, Steaua Bucharest.


    The Romanian Volleyball federation this past Wednesday
    held a ceremony to mark 90 years since the Romanian Volleyball Federation has
    been set up. As part of the ceremony, awards went to the Romanian men’s line-up
    who in the 1980 won domestic volleyball’s only medal, bronze, at the Olympic
    Games in Moscow. Six former volleyball players attended the ceremony, of the
    line-up who won the medals 41 years ago. They are Constantin Stere, Nicu Stoian,
    Dan Gîrleanu, Marius Căta-Chiţiga, Gunther Enescu and Sorin Macavei.


    In news from domestic football, Flavius Stoican is the
    new Dinamo head-coach. We recall Stoican is a former Dinamo footballer of the early
    2000’s. Stoican had two previous stints as a Dinamo head-coach seven years ago.
    Flavious Stoican is in for Mircea Rednic, who took over on October 1st.
    Rednic’s record as a Dynamo head-coach was dismally unconvincing. With Mircea Rednic
    at the helm, Dinamo managed only one winning fixture, two draws and was
    defeated in seven games. One of the iconic footballers of Dinamo in the 1980s
    and the 1990s, Mircea Rednic’s most remarkable feat is the winning of the
    domestic title 14 years ago, in 2007. At present Dinamo is 15th-placed
    according to the domestic rankings, the last-but-one position in the as-it-stands
    table.


    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)

  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    Romanian international footballer’s Ciprian Tatarusanu’s team, AC Milan on
    Wednesday succeeded its first win in the Champions League’s ongoing season. Romanian
    goalkeeper’s team grabbed a 1-nil away win against Atletico Madrid, in a
    fixture counting towards the competition’s Group B. Tatarusanu was on the pitch
    all throughout the game. First-timer Messias Junior put his team ahead on 87
    minutes, so AC Milan stays in the race for the League’s round of 16. Another
    Romanian, central referee Ovidiu Hateganu, a coordinated an all-Romanian referee
    crew for the match pitting Internationale Milan against Shakhktar Donetsk. Inter
    won, 2-nil.


    In Houston, Texas, the USA, Bernadette Szőcs and Andreea Dragoman have
    advanced to the World Table Tennis Championships’ third round. In the women’s
    singles’ second round, Szőcs outclassed Polish Natalia Bajor, 4-1, while Dragoman
    grabbed a 4-3 win against Germany’s Petrissa Solja. Adina Diaconu lost to
    French opponent Jia Nan Yuan, nil-4. Elizabeta Samara sustained a defeat by
    Taiwan’s Liu Hsing-Yin, also nil-4. In the men’s singles, Cristian Pletea was
    defeated by Cyril Skachev of Russia. 4-2. Pletea was the only Romanian left who
    competed in the ongoing edition of the World Championships.


    In Sibiu, central Romania, in a CEV Cup fixture counting towards the round
    of 32’s second leg, Romanian women’s volleyball team Volei Alba Blaj have advanced
    to the competition’s round of 16, having defeated Hungarian opponents Vasas
    Budapest 3-nil on Wednesday. Volei Alba Blaj had also won the first leg in
    Budapest, 3-1. In the round of 16, Alba Blaj are pitted against Greek opponents
    PAOK Thessalonica. The first leg is scheduled away from home.


    In news from women’s basketball, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe advanced to EuroCup.
    On Wednesday, Sepsi grabbed a 71-65 away win against Elazig Oezel Idare of Turkey.
    For Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe, it was the last but one match in the competition’s
    Group B. We recall Sepsi have already secured one of the first two positions that
    takes them to the Euro CUP’s next stage. In the competition’s group stage, Sepsi
    take on Uni Gyor on December the 1st, away from home.

    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)












  • Sports flash

    Sports flash


    Romanian international footballer’s Ciprian Tatarusanu’s team, AC Milan on
    Wednesday succeeded its first win in the Champions League’s ongoing season. Romanian
    goalkeeper’s team grabbed a 1-nil away win against Atletico Madrid, in a
    fixture counting towards the competition’s Group B. Tatarusanu was on the pitch
    all throughout the game. First-timer Messias Junior put his team ahead on 87
    minutes, so AC Milan stays in the race for the League’s round of 16. Another
    Romanian, central referee Ovidiu Hateganu, a coordinated an all-Romanian referee
    crew for the match pitting Internationale Milan against Shakhktar Donetsk. Inter
    won, 2-nil.


    In Houston, Texas, the USA, Bernadette Szőcs and Andreea Dragoman have
    advanced to the World Table Tennis Championships’ third round. In the women’s
    singles’ second round, Szőcs outclassed Polish Natalia Bajor, 4-1, while Dragoman
    grabbed a 4-3 win against Germany’s Petrissa Solja. Adina Diaconu lost to
    French opponent Jia Nan Yuan, nil-4. Elizabeta Samara sustained a defeat by
    Taiwan’s Liu Hsing-Yin, also nil-4. In the men’s singles, Cristian Pletea was
    defeated by Cyril Skachev of Russia. 4-2. Pletea was the only Romanian left who
    competed in the ongoing edition of the World Championships.


    In Sibiu, central Romania, in a CEV Cup fixture counting towards the round
    of 32’s second leg, Romanian women’s volleyball team Volei Alba Blaj have advanced
    to the competition’s round of 16, having defeated Hungarian opponents Vasas
    Budapest 3-nil on Wednesday. Volei Alba Blaj had also won the first leg in
    Budapest, 3-1. In the round of 16, Alba Blaj are pitted against Greek opponents
    PAOK Thessalonica. The first leg is scheduled away from home.


    In news from women’s basketball, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe advanced to EuroCup.
    On Wednesday, Sepsi grabbed a 71-65 away win against Elazig Oezel Idare of Turkey.
    For Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe, it was the last but one match in the competition’s
    Group B. We recall Sepsi have already secured one of the first two positions that
    takes them to the Euro CUP’s next stage. In the competition’s group stage, Sepsi
    take on Uni Gyor on December the 1st, away from home.

    (Translation by Eugen Nasta)












  • Sports Flash

    Sports Flash

    The mens handball team Dinamo Bucharest was defeated, on Wednesday, away from home, by the German team Flensburg-Handewitt with the score 37-30. The match counted for Group B of the Champions League. Following this result, the Romanian team fell on the last place in the group, with only 4 points from 7 games. Also on Wednesday, the Ukrainian team Motor Zaporoje defeated the Hungarian team Veszprem 29-27. Next Thursday, Dinamo will play the return match with Flensburg-Handewitt, in Bucharest.



    In Group G of the Champions League in mens basketball, U-BT Cluj-Napoca obtained on Wednesday, on home turf, a dramatic victory against the Israeli team Hapoel Holon, with the score of 106-101, after two rounds of extra time. The best player of the hosts was the American Brandon Brown, with 20 points, a recovery and eight decisive passes. In the same group, on Tuesday, the Italian team Happy Casa Brindisi defeated the Turkish team Daruşşafaka Istanbul 82-73. Top of the ranking is U-BT Cluj-Napoca, with 7 points from 4 games, followed by Hapoel, with 5 points from 3 games, Happy Casa Brindisi, also with 5 points, but from 4 games, and Daruşşafaka, with 4 points from 3 games. The outstanding games between Daruşşafaka – Hapoel Holon will take place on December 7. U-BT Cluj-Napoca will play the next match on December 15, at home, with Happy Casa Brindisi. The winners of the groups qualify directly in the second phase of the groups, in which 16 teams will play. The teams on the 2nd and 3rd positions will play tiebreakers to be split and move on to the next phase.



    We continue with mens basketball. CSM CSU Oradea qualified to the second phase of the groups of the FIBA ​​Europe Cup competition. The Romanian team defeated on Wednesday, at home, after extra time, the Hungarian team Szolnoki Olajbányász, with the score 78-70, in their last game in Group H. In the final ranking of the group, Legia Warsaw ranked first, with 12 points, followed by CSM CSU Oradea, with 9, FC Porto, with 8 and Szolnoki Olajbányász, with 7 points. In the next phase, Oradea will play in Group K, together with Trefl Sopot, from Poland, Sporting Lisbon, and Parma Basket, from Russia, or Benfica Lisbon.



    Now volleyball. The Romanian mens volleyball champion, Arcada Galaţi, qualified for the 16th finals of the CEV Cup. Although it was defeated away from home by the Czech team Lvi Prague, with the score 3-2, in the second leg of the preliminary round of the competition, the team coached by Sergiu Stancu goes further thanks to the 3-1 win in the first round. In the 16th finals, Arcada Galati will be up against the French team Chaumont, the first game being scheduled in France. (LS)