Pallacanestro Forlì opened its 2026/2027 Serie A2 campaign with a commanding 85-68 victory over UEB Gesteco Cividale at the PalaGesteco, controlling the contest from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Led by coach Nanni, the visiting side put together a relentless defensive display and high-tempo transition game to overwhelm a Cividale squad that entered the fixture fresh off winning the LNP Supercoppa.
Forlì arrived in Friuli without American guard Donald Carey, who was listed on the bench solely for formality, while Stefano Pillastrini’s Cividale roster was fully available following a preseason disrupted by minor injuries. A crowd of 2,478 spectators—including approximately 60 traveling supporters from Forlì—witnessed the visitors seize momentum late in the opening period and never relinquish it.
Early Balance Shattered by Ceccato’s First-Quarter Surge
The contest began on an even footing. Davide Gaspardo opened the scoring with a fadeaway jumper from the corner, followed by five quick points from Berdini to give Forlì an early 8-4 advantage. Cividale answered through a basket from Lucio Redivo and a corner three-pointer by Costi, narrowing the gap to a single point at 13-12.
That brief window of competitive balance closed when Mattia Ceccato took over the game. The young product of Olimpia Milano’s youth system sparked a decisive visiting run by sinking an off-balance pull-up jumper, netting a pair of high-difficulty three-pointers, and finishing a scramble for a loose ball with a tap-in that established a 27-15 lead for Forlì at the end of the first period.
Defensive Pressure Breaks the Game Open in the Second Quarter
Forlì tightened its defensive screws in the second quarter, forcing Cividale into a flurry of turnovers and capitalizing in transition. Filippo Zanetti struck from deep before a baseline cut and uncontested fast-break layup by Pinza stretched the margin to 34-15, forcing Pillastrini to call a timeout.
Gesteco found brief relief through Vecchiola’s free throws and an interior basket from Tio, but Ceccato remained unstoppable, curling off screens to sink another deep jump shot for a 37-19 lead that drew roars from the visiting section. Perimeter strikes from Davide Mian and Gaspardo pushed the advantage further, sending Forlì into halftime with a commanding 48-23 cushion.
Cividale’s Third-Quarter Push Repelled by Visitor Discipline
The second half initially followed the same script as Forlì continued to punish every defensive lapse. Pinza sank a jumper from the elbow, Santos Silva converted efficiently inside, and Berdini scored on a fast break to stretch the gap to 58-29, prompting another Cividale timeout.
Cividale responded with a display of pride, stringing together a 9-2 run sparked by three-pointers from Costi and Vecchiola to pull within 60-38. However, Forlì maintained defensive discipline, absorbing the hosts’ best stretch and taking a comfortable 64-46 lead into the final period.
Managing the Finish and Looking Ahead to Cento
The fourth quarter largely became a matter of game management as Forlì maintained a safe distance. Josovic contributed five points during a sequence that included a team score engineered by Zanetti and Ceccato, and Mian stretched the advantage to 80-52 with a reverse layup. Cividale trimmed the final deficit through late scoring from Redivo, but Pinza punctuated the evening by beating the 24-second shot clock with a contested three-pointer on the final possession, sealing the 85-68 final score.
The victory gives Forlì a strong start to the new campaign, though coach Nanni’s side faces a quick turnaround. The team will host its first home fixture of the regular season on Saturday, October 3, at 8:30 PM local time (CET), welcoming Cento to the Unieuro Arena.
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