Valcea Edges Petrolul Ploiesti in High-Scoring Romanian League Affair

Liga Nationala de Baschet Masculin – 14 May 2026

Valcea secured an impressive 104–95 road victory over Petrolul Ploiesti in a fast-paced Romanian National League encounter. The visitors' three-point shooting and second-half surge proved too much for the home side.

Match Overview

Petrolul Ploiesti started strong, leading 28–22 after the first quarter, but Valcea responded with a 35-point second quarter to take a 57–54 halftime lead. The game remained close until Valcea pulled away with a 15–4 run midway through the fourth.

Key Moments

• Three-point barrage: Valcea connected on 15 three-pointers, shooting 48% from beyond the arc.
• Turning point: With the score 88–87 in favor of Valcea with 5:38 left, guard Andrei Mandache hit back-to-back threes to stretch the lead to seven.
• Free-throw execution: Valcea made 20-of-23 free throws in the final quarter, sealing the win.

Standout Performers

Valcea: Guard Andrei Mandache poured in 31 points on 8-of-12 shooting from three-point range. Forward Vlad Moldoveanu added 24 points and 9 rebounds, and point guard Luca Petrescu dished out 11 assists.

Petrolul Ploiesti: Center Mihai Caragea led the home team with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Cosmin Enciu contributed 22 points, but the team's defense struggled to contain Valcea's perimeter shooting.

Season Impact

The victory lifted Valcea to 16–10, solidifying their position in the top half of the Liga Nationala standings. Petrolul Ploiesti dropped to 12–14, still in playoff contention but needing to improve their defensive efficiency, especially against strong shooting teams.