Rigas Zelli edged out Derthona Basket in one of the tightest EuroCup Basketball finishes of the round, taking an 86-84 victory on home soil. The Latvian side held off a determined second-half comeback from the Italian visitors, sealing the win with composed free-throw shooting in the closing seconds of a game that was never truly safe until the final buzzer.

Match Overview

Rigas Zelli started brightly, moving the ball sharply and knocking down open looks from beyond the arc to build an early cushion. Derthona Basket responded with the kind of physical, disciplined half-court basketball that has become their trademark, grinding the game back into a possession-by-possession battle. By halftime the lead had been trimmed to a handful of points, and the second half developed into a genuine back-and-forth contest with multiple lead changes.

Neither team led by more than seven points at any stage after the opening quarter. In the end, the difference came down to execution in the final two minutes.

Key Moments

• Opening quarter: Rigas Zelli raced to an early double-digit lead behind hot perimeter shooting, forcing Derthona into an early timeout.
• Third quarter: Derthona's defensive adjustment and improved rebounding produced a sustained run that levelled the score.
• Final minute: With the game tied, Rigas Zelli drew a foul on a drive and converted from the line, then forced a contested, off-balance look at the other end to close it out.

Tactical Story

The contrast in styles made this a fascinating watch. Rigas Zelli wanted pace — quick outlets, early offence, and threes in transition. Derthona Basket wanted a slower, more methodical game built on post entries, offensive rebounds, and defensive solidity. For three quarters, neither team managed to impose its preferred tempo for long, which is exactly why the score stayed so close.

What ultimately separated them was shot quality in crunch time. Rigas Zelli generated a clean look or a foul on nearly every late possession, while Derthona were forced into tougher, late-clock attempts. That small margin in decision-making is often the entire difference in EuroCup games decided by two points.

Standout Performers

Rigas Zelli's guards carried much of the scoring load, blending long-range shooting with aggressive drives that put Derthona's frontcourt in foul trouble. Their composure at the free-throw line in the final minute was the decisive contribution. For Derthona, the frontcourt battle was a clear strength — their work on the offensive glass kept them alive during the stretches when their jump shots were not falling.

What It Means for the EuroCup Standings

This is the kind of win that shapes a group. A two-point home victory gives Rigas Zelli an important head-to-head edge over a direct rival for playoff positioning, as well as a valuable result to reference if the standings become congested later in the regular season. For Derthona Basket, it is a frustrating near miss — they proved they can compete on the road, but they leave empty-handed from a game that was there to be taken.

Both teams will meet again later in the campaign, and on this evidence that return fixture should be circled in the calendar.