U-BT Cluj Napoca re-signed center Emanuel Cate for another season, the club announced on Monday. Cate (2.07 meters, 25 years old) averaged 9.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in his BKT EuroCup debut last season. He also starred with 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and league-best 1.2 blocks, helping Cluj win the 2023 Romanian League crown.
Before joining Cluj, Cate played with Murcia in Spain for four years. He grew up with local clubs in Bucharest before joining Real Madrid as a 16-year-old in 2013. He played for Real's juniors and won the EuroLeague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament in 2015. Cate then played for the club's second team before moving on to Baloncesto Sevilla, Betis Sevilla and CB Prat. He is also a long-time member and team captain of the Romanian national team.