Budućnost VOLI Takes Game 1 At Home Against U-BT Cluj-Napoca

AdmiralBet ABA League Quarterfinals Round 1, Tuesday, 5 May 2026:

BUDUĆNOST VOLI - U-BT Cluj-Napoca 86:73 (25:17, 14:23, 24:20, 23:13)

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POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game Recap: Budućnost VOLI opened their AdmiralBet ABA League Playoffs quarter-final series with a convincing 86:73 home win over U-BT Cluj-Napoca, taking a 1-0 lead. The hosts showed two different faces throughout the night — dominant early, inconsistent before halftime, and ultimately composed when it mattered most.

After building a double-digit advantage in the first quarter, Budućnost allowed Cluj-Napoca to claw their way back and even edge ahead by halftime (40:39). The third quarter unfolded as a tightly contested battle, with neither side able to establish control. However, the Montenegrin side raised their level in the final period, limiting the visitors to just 13 points and pulling away to secure a comfortable win.

With this result, Budućnost VOLI now heads into Game 2 on Friday with the opportunity to close out the series, while U-BT Cluj-Napoca will aim to respond on home court and force a decisive Game 3.

Key Moments: The decisive stretch arrived in the fourth quarter. A three-pointer early in the period gave Budućnost a 66:60 edge and set the tone for a 7:0 run that restored a double-digit advantage (74:62). From there, the hosts maintained control, and a late triple extended the margin to 84:67, effectively putting the game out of reach and sealing the win.

Man of the Match: Zoran Nikolić delivered a standout performance in limited minutes, making a decisive impact on both ends of the floor.

In just 15 minutes of action, he recorded 18 points on an efficient 6/7 shooting, along with 6 rebounds. His presence was strongly felt, reflected in a game-high efficiency rating of 22 and an outstanding +27 plus/minus.

Nikolić’s contribution proved especially valuable during key stretches, where his energy and scoring helped shift momentum firmly in Budućnost’s favor.

Can’t Trick the Stats: One of the clearest statistical differences in the game came in second-chance production. Budućnost VOLI controlled the offensive glass, finishing with 11 offensive rebounds compared to just 2 by U-BT Cluj-Napoca.

This dominance translated directly into scoring, with the home side generating 15 second-chance points, while the visitors failed to register a single point from such situations.

In a game that was closely contested for long stretches, this disparity played a crucial role, giving Budućnost extra possessions and ultimately helping them pull away in the final quarter.