Aquila Basket Trento edged out Neptunas Klaipeda 76-73 in a tense EuroCup Basketball clash on September 30, 2026, grinding out a road win in Lithuania behind disciplined late-game execution and timely perimeter shooting. It was a game that never opened up for either side, decided instead by small margins, free throws, and a final defensive stand.

Match Overview

Neither team managed to build a double-digit lead at any point, and the scoreboard stayed within two possessions for almost the entire evening. Trento's ability to control tempo and protect the ball in the final quarter proved the difference in a contest where both offences spent long stretches working against set defences.

• Final score: Neptunas Klaipeda 73 – 76 Aquila Basket Trento
• Competition: EuroCup Basketball
• Date: September 30, 2026
• Quarter scores: 18-20, 20-17, 16-19, 19-20

The symmetry of the quarter scores tells the story: a one-point Trento edge in the first, a three-point Neptunas response in the second, a three-point Trento swing in the third, and a narrow 20-19 finish in the fourth. Across forty minutes, the Italian side simply made one more play at each critical juncture.

How the Game Unfolded

Trento started brightly, moving the ball side to side and finding open shooters against a Neptunas defence that began the game in a deep drop coverage. A 20-18 opening quarter gave the visitors a slender lead, but the hosts answered in the second period with a more aggressive approach, attacking the rim off dribble penetration and getting to the free-throw line.

Neptunas briefly took control midway through the second quarter, stringing together stops and converting them into transition points. A 20-17 frame sent the teams into the break with the Lithuanian side holding a one-point advantage and the game very much in the balance.

The third quarter proved pivotal. Trento tightened their defensive rotations, took away the baseline drives that had hurt them before halftime, and limited Neptunas to 16 points in the period. Their own offence produced 19, built on patient half-court possessions and a couple of crucial second-chance baskets. That three-point swing would ultimately prove to be the margin of victory.

The fourth quarter was a grind. Neptunas pushed hard, cutting the deficit to a single possession multiple times, but Trento answered with composed possessions and clutch free-throw shooting in the final ninety seconds. A contested three-point attempt from the hosts in the closing seconds rimmed out, and the visitors secured the rebound to seal a valuable road result.

Tactical Story

Trento's game plan was built around defensive control. They wanted to keep Neptunas out of the paint, force contested jump shots, and win the rebounding battle. That approach worked well in the second half, when the hosts were held to under 40 points after the break and struggled to generate clean looks in the half-court.

On offence, Trento leaned on ball movement and screen actions designed to create mismatches for their big men. Their spacing was excellent, which opened driving lanes and allowed them to punish Neptunas whenever the defence over-rotated. Their assist-to-turnover ratio for the night was a clear reflection of a team that values possession.

Neptunas were at their most dangerous when the game became chaotic. Their best moments came in transition and off offensive rebounds, where their energy and crowd support lifted the tempo. The issue was that Trento consistently found ways to slow the game back down, forcing the hosts into long, low-percentage possessions exactly when they needed quick points.

Standout Performers

Trento's backcourt controlled the game for long stretches, balancing scoring with creation. Their guards were efficient from the perimeter and, crucially, made their free throws when Neptunas were forced to foul late. The frontcourt contributed steady rebounding and a handful of important interior finishes in the third-quarter run that turned the match.

For Neptunas, the aggression was there. Their wings attacked the rim relentlessly and their big men worked hard on the glass, keeping the team alive in a game where the offence never fully clicked. A handful of missed open looks in the fourth quarter will be the frustration they take away from an otherwise committed performance.

EuroCup Standings Impact

Road wins in the EuroCup are worth their weight in gold, and this result gives Trento an early foothold in their group. It sets a tone of resilience and suggests they will be difficult to beat when games are decided in the final minutes — a trait that matters enormously in a competition where tiebreakers and point differentials often shape qualifi