The Cup is a special competition in every sport. There are different rules than in the championship, rules that make the competition unique and somewhat interesting. Even smaller teams have a chance in the Cup, it's enough to have a few good games and you can win at least a medal. This is why sometimes they call the Cup competitions Giant Killers, any big team can have a bad day and fall to a relatively weaker opponent. In any Cup competition, once you lose, you are out, no return.
As any competition in the world, the Romanian basketball competition has its own specific rules. The 13 teams from the National League were entered automatically in the draw and as no other team signed up, the federation had to think up a system for this odd number of teams. Thus they decided that there will be a lucky winner, a team which qualifies for the quarter finals without playing. The 12 remaining teams were paired for six games. The six winners would qualify for the quarter finals. The 8th and final spot would be occupied by the best loser of the six first round games. This way there was a possibility that a team losing in the first round would meet in the quarter finals the same team that it lost to. The irony...
This season in the National League there are six foreign players allowed to be entered on the scoresheet. The coaches can rotate these six players as they wish. In the Romanian Cup though, there is a rule that changes everything. Although the six foreign players are still eligible to play, there has to be a Romanian player on the court at any given time of the game. And given the low number of quality Romanian players in the league, this can be a very important issue in the outcome of games.
Let's see what choice do coaches have for the eight quarter finalists.
Energia Rovinari, last year's winners, have Tal Kerpelesz, an israeli power forward with Romanian heritage. He averaged 21 minutes per game in the championship and proved more than a good addition to the squad. There are also Baris Aktas and Catalin Vlaicu, but their minutes and performance wasn't out of the ordinary.
CSU Asesoft Ploiesti have Catalin Burlacu as their flag bearer, and although he is recovering from knee surgery, can be an important element in the rotation this year. Coach Arnautovic can also rely on Levi Szijarto, even if mostly on the defensive end.
BC Timisoara has Bogdan Popescu as their number one Romanian player. The veteran power forward can use his experience to turn around any game. Beside him coach Petricevic gave a few valuable minutes to youngsters George Toth and Zoran Milencovic.
CSU Sibiu has Octavian Popa Calota and veteran Flavius Lapuste to enter in the rotation. Popa Calota is at the height of his career with good performances at his club and in the National Team.
BCM U Pitesti has no big names on the roster, but coach Sapera knows how to motivate relatively unknown players to give their best on the court and be useful in the rotation. This way Iulian Orbeanu and Cezar Stanescu helped the team to 3rd place at the Christmas break.
Timba Timisoara doesn't have any acknowledged Romanian players. Alexandru Mihuti, Daniel Patru, Bogdan Costa, Leonard Filip, Alin Andries are all from the second line of Romanian basketball, but coach Murarescu proved that they can help his team in any game.
Steaua CSM Eximbank Bucuresti is perhaps the team with the best Romanian line-up. No less than four National Team players can be used by coach Bavcevic. Titus Nicoara, one the best Romanian players, Mihai Paul, Adrian Tudor and Ionut Dragusin can all contribute decisively in any game.
BC Mures Tirgu Mures has four players for the Romanian rotation. Laci Lazar was the most used of them in the championship, but Capusan, Polyak and Corpodean can prove very valuable in the Cup.
This issue of the 5th player can spice up the quarter finals of the Cup, because coaches have to change their standard rotations and improvise. No doubt that teams which use their Romanian players in their basic rotation in the championship will be at an advantage, but if one or two of the lesser used players had good performances in the Cup, it could turn around the tie.
So watch out for the Romanian contingent tonight, their performance can influence the outcome of the quarter finals in a major way.
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