Cateodata cei mari castiga meciul. Cateodata nu trebuie decat un singur jucator sa inchida tabela. Alteori o serie rapida poate face toata diferenta dintre doua combatante. Nu si in seara aceasta. Desi Sibiul a avut un om mare in EarlBrown. Si Brown a marcat sapte (!) cosuri de trei consecutive socand toata sala. Iar vizitatorii au avut o serie de 11-0 fulgeratoare pentru a transforma un deficit de 6 puncte intr-un avantaj de 5 parand sa iasa castigatori. Insa se pare ca nu au fost destul de pregatiti.
De multe ori munca in echipa castiga meciurile, si e de ajuns sa ai mult suflet pentru a decide o partida. De multe ori faptul ca nu te dai batut cand esti la pamant poate resuscita si cea mai slaba bataie de inima. Adaugati la asta puterea Junglei. Si veti obtine un invingator.

A fost un joc intr-adevar spectaculos intre doua echipe apropiate ca valoare generala dar foarte diferite ca si stil. Primul sfert s-a terminat aproape asa cum a inceput, Sibiul conducand cu un punct, 25-26. Masiulis si Brown au oferit spectacolul printr-un dunk respectiv doua aruncari de la distanta.
In sfertul doi lucrurile aratau la fel in primele opt minute adversarii mergand cot la cot nimerind tinta de cateva ori din diferite pozitii. Dar apoi Peciukas, surprinzator de 'tacut' la inceput, a scapat de aparatori marcand 7 puncte consecutive si stabilind scorul la pauza: 45-39.

Dupa pauza amfitrionii au inceput bine dar apoi a urmat o seceta de puncte prmitand ca sibienii sa marcheze 11 puncte fara raspuns. A fost fara indoiala sfertul lui Earl Brown. Fundasul sibian a reusit sa inscrie un numar ametitor de 6 treite consecutive (din 6 incercari) care a inghetat tribunele. Din fericire muresenii nu au lasat ca handicapul sa depaseasca 5 puncte niciodata si au reusit un final de sfert bun pe mana lui Cooley si Tomic. 64-67 dupa 30 de minute.

Pociukonis a scuturat plasa pentru a restabili egalitatea la debutul ultimei parti iar Tomic i-a readus pe gazde in frunte. Dar Brown a mai inscris un cos de trei, al saptelea consecutiv, pentru a-si tine echipa aproape. apoi Jason Smith, absent din joc in repriza a doua, a marcat de sus pentru a restabili egalitatea. Si a venit momentul cand Muresul s-a instalat definitv la conducere prin liberele lui Pociukonis. Mana lui Marius nu si-a pierdut precizia si a inscris din coltul terenului apoi a marcat un jumpshot pentru a mari diferenta la 7 puncte. Aruncarea lunga a lui Smith nu si-a nimerit tinta si Peciukas a driblat mingea pana la fluierul final. Scor 88-79.

Rezultat excelent pentru tigri, mai ales ca deplasarile sunt inca un taram interzis, un pas mai aproape de un loc de playoff, precum si o victorie de moral. Sambata tigrii se vor calatori la Targu Jiu pentru un derby cuasidecisiv, astfel ca aceasta victorie vine intr-un moment foarte bun.

Statisticile arata ca Muresul a depasit Sibiul exact atunci cand era nevoie, adica in sfertul 4 (24-12). Cele 11 capace ale gazdelor au fost egalate de tot atatea interceptii ale oaspetilor care in timp ce de la distanta au avut un procentaj de 48%, din apropierea inelului au convertit doar 36% din incercari in cosuri. Mai exista si diferenta de la libere, unde muresenii au avut 16 reusite in timp ce vizitatorii doar 6.
Venind de pe banca Peciukas a jucat foarte util avand 22 de puncte, 10 recuperari si 3 pase decisive. Tomic a strans 15 puncte si 10 recuperari, iar omul finalurilor de atac, Pociukonis, a terminat cu 17 puncte (3/4 treite). Insa efortul a fost unul colectiv, toti avand un rol decisiv in obtinerea victoriei.
Earl Brown a fost cel mai bun marcator cu 31 de puncte (9/13 de la 3) a fost aplaudat la scena deschisa fiind eliminat in ultimele minute. Smith care a avut o prima repriza foarte buna, a adunat 18 puncte. Dar Sibiul a pierdut meciul sub panou, Johnson nereusind niciuna din cele 9 incercari ale sale, Calota 4 din 13, iar Herndon a inscris doar de doua ori din 8 aruncari.

Sibiului i s-a terminat portia noroc spre sfarsit dar nu si suportul fanilor ei dominand atmosfera din jungla in multe momente ale jocului. Per total, a fost un spectacol reusit pentru o intalnire de miercuri.

Statistica meciului

Home Sweet Home... (BC Mures - CSU Sibiu 88-79)

Sometimes the great ones win games. Sometimes it takes only one player to finish it off. Sometimes a quick run can make all the difference in a contest. Well, not tonight. Yes, Sibiu had a great one in Earl Brown. Yes, Brown hit seven (!) straight treys to shock the entire audience. Yes, the visitors used a lightning 11-0 run to turn a minus six deficit into a plus five advantage, and seemed prepared to steal the game. Well, as it turned out, they weren't prepared enough.
That's because many times teamwork wins games. Many times heart is all it takes to finish a game off. Many times never giving up while being down under resuscitates even the faintest heartbeats. Add to this the power of the Jungle. And you'll get a winner.

It really was an entertaining game played by two teams similar in overall value but different in playing style. The first quarter ended almost the same way as it started, with Sibiu being up by one, 26-25. Highlights were offered by Masiulis, a dunk, and Brown, a couple of deep shots.
In the second things looked exactly the same for the first eight minutes, the contenders going head-to-head and occasionally finding the target from here and there. But then Peciukas, who had been surprisingly quiet earlier, managed to shake off his defenders and scored seven straight points to close the first half, 45-39 for the Tigers.

After the break the home players started well, but soon slumped into a misterious offensive blackout, enabling Sibiu to put eleven unanswered points on the scoreboard. It certainly was the quarter of Earl Brown. Sibiu's guard exploded for a jaw-dropping six consecutive three pointers (out of six attempts), which mesmerized the entire Tiger faithful. Fortunately Mures never trailed by more than five, and managed to finish strong on the hands of Tomic and Cooley. 64-67 after thirty minutes.

Pociukonis scorched the net from downtown to tie the game as the final quarter started, while Tomic swung the lead bach to the home team. But Brown hit his seventh straight trey from an amazing distance to keep his team close, and Jason Smith, never into the game in the second half, dunked in the equalizer, 75-75.
That was the moment when Mures went up for good, thanks to a couple of Pociukonis free throws. Marius kept his shooting hand hot, and drilled a three pointer from the corner, then increased the lead to seven with a jumpshot. It was all but over, as Smith's long bucket couldn't save the day for Sibiu, so Peciukas dribbled out the clock to seal an 88-79 win.

Great result for the Tigers, as the away contests are still a no-winner for them, and the playoff spots up for graps are very scarce. But it's still one step closer now, and it's great as a morale boost also. Saturday the Tigers travel to Tg.Jiu for a semi-decisive clash with Energia Rovinari, so tonight's sweet one couldn't have arrived at a better moment.

The stats prove that Mures shut down Sibiu right when it mattered the most, 24-12 in the last ten minutes. The 11 block shots of the home team were responded by as many steals made by Brown & Co. The visitors, while converted 48 % of their downtown shots, managed to come up only with a subpar 36 % close range performance. At the line the difference is also there, Mures converting 16 while Sibiu only 6.
Coming off the bench, Peciukas was more than useful with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. Tomic, scoring 15 and pulling down 10, and the clutch man Pociukonis (17 points, 3/4 from behind the arch) were also decisive. But, as everybody played a leading role, it was a team effort above all.
Earl Brown, who led all scorers with 31 (9/13 from the three), received a well-deserved standing ovation from a fine crowd as he fouled out in the closing minutes. Smith, who had a great first half, gathered 18. But Sibiu lost the game in the paint, as Johnson couldn't convert any of his 9 attempts, Calota was 4 of 13, and big man Herndon banked in just 2 out of 8.

Sibiu's luck might have run out in the end, but their fans' energy never faded throughout the game, dominating the audience most of the time. Not a bad performance for a midweek encounter.

Game stats