Sports flash

România Internațional, 07.04.2022, 13:20

This past Tuesdays Champions League mens basketball match pitting U BT Cluj against Germanys Ludwigsburg drew almost 10,000 fans in the Polivalenta Hall stands. Since the 20th centurys 1960s, this has been a record-high figure for a basketball event held in Romania, when, back in the day, Harlem Globe Trotters were showing their magic on the Republica stadium in Bucharest. On Tuesday, holders U BT succeeded a hard-fought 76-73 win against Ludwigsburg. The fixture counted towards the first leg of the Leagues quarterfinals. The decisive match is scheduled in Germany on April 13, when the ties second-leg winner will take part in the final tournament held in Spains Bilbao in May this year.

In news from womens tennis, the Romanian Irina Begu has advanced to the round of 16 as part of the WTA 500 tournament in Charleston, an event with a total of 900 thousand USD up for grabs. On Wednesday, Begu defeated Ajla Tomljanovic, 6-2, 6-3, after one hour and 18 minutes of play. Head-to-heads now point to a 3-1 advantage for the Romanian. We recall that in Budapest in 2011, and in Acapulco, in 2013, Begu also outclassed Tomljanovic. However, in Cincinnati, in 2018, Ajla Tomljanovic defeated Irina Begu. The Romanians advancing to the round of 16 in Charleston has earned Irina Begu 9,900 USD and 55 WTA points. Begu will next face the winner of the match pitting 4th-seeded Ons Jabeur against Emma Navarro of the USA. The match was interrupted because of the darkness, when Jabeur had a 6-3, 5-2 advantage.

In news from domestic football, Petrolul from Ploiesti are at the top of the Second League table, even though their record so far has been a no-win one after the first three matches they played in Group 1. On Wednesday, Petrolul were held to a blank draw by FC Hermannstadt, at home. Petrolul have 51 points, while the runner-up team, FC Hermannstadt, 48. The third rounds last fixture is scheduled on Thursday, when 3rd-placed team Universitatea Cluj take on 4th-placed Steaua Bucharest. Of the Second Leagues six Group 1 teams, the first two teams will be promoted straight into League One. 3rd and 4th-placed teams will play a playoff fixture against League Ones 7th and 8th-placed teams in Group 2. Steaua Bucharest are not officially entitled to being promoted since they belong to the National Defence Ministry. According to the Sports Law, a public law club is not officially allowed to play in League One, which is a professional competition.

(EN)