Carmatic Pistoia Edges Ruvo Di Puglia in Last-Second Thriller

Carmatic Pistoia survived a nail-biting finish to defeat Ruvo Di Puglia 79-78 in Lega Nazionale Pallacanestro Serie A2 on May 9, 2026. The home crowd erupted as a contested layup with 1.2 seconds remaining gave Pistoia the narrow win in a game that featured multiple lead changes in the final minutes.

Match Overview

The contest was tightly contested throughout, with neither team leading by more than seven points. Ruvo Di Puglia appeared to seize control midway through the fourth quarter, taking a 76-71 lead with under three minutes to play. But Pistoia responded with a frantic rally, capped by a driving basket that proved to be the game-winner.

Key Moments

• Clutch Defense: With 10 seconds left and the score tied at 78, Pistoia forced a turnover on Ruvo's inbound pass, setting up the final possession.
• Game-Winner: The shooting guard drove baseline, drew contact, and finished high off the glass despite being bumped, drawing no foul but converting the go-ahead bucket.
• Last Chance: Ruvo's desperation heave from half-court missed wide, securing Pistoia's victory.

Standout Players

• Carmatic Pistoia: The guard finished with 22 points, including the decisive basket. The center added 14 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring the interior.
• Ruvo Di Puglia: Their forward scored 19 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, but his missed free throw with 30 seconds left proved costly.

Season Context

This win provides a huge morale boost for Carmatic Pistoia as they fight for a mid-table position. Ruvo Di Puglia, despite the loss, showed they can compete with anyone and remain in the playoff hunt. The narrow margin highlighted the intensity of Serie A2 basketball this season.