The 2025–26 Lega Nazionale Pallacanestro Serie A2 season delivered a decisive result on 22 May 2026 as Edilizia Moderna Rimini traveled to the UEB Gesteco Arena and secured a commanding 84–69 road victory over UEB Gesteco Cividale. The win reinforced Rimini's credentials as a top‑tier contender in the second division, while Cividale was left searching for answers after a disjointed offensive performance in front of their home crowd.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, Rimini imposed their defensive intensity, holding Cividale to just 13 points in the first quarter. The visitors built a double‑digit lead by halftime and never allowed the home side to mount a sustained comeback. Rimini’s balanced scoring attack—four players reached double figures—combined with disciplined rebounding and ball movement proved too much for a Cividale team that struggled to find rhythm against a swarming zone defense.

Key Moments

• First‑quarter surge: Rimini opened with a 22–13 run, fueled by three quick steals that led to transition baskets. Guard Lorenzo Galassi knocked down two early triples to set the tone.
• Halftime cushion: A 12–0 spurt late in the second quarter pushed Rimini’s lead to 44–28 at the break, highlighted by a chasedown block from forward Matteo Bonfante that ignited a fast‑break finish.
• Third‑quarter pushback: Cividale trimmed the deficit to 10 points midway through the third period, but Rimini responded with a 7–0 run anchored by center Davide Raucci’s interior presence.
• Closing statement: In the fourth quarter, Rimini’s bench maintained the intensity, extending the lead to 20 points before Cividale managed a late consolation run.

Standout Performers

• Lorenzo Galassi (Rimini): 18 points (4/7 from three), 5 assists, and 3 steals. His early shooting disrupted Cividale’s defensive game plan.
• Davide Raucci (Rimini): 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Anchored the paint at both ends and controlled the glass.
• Matteo Bonfante (Rimini): 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Provided energetic two‑way contributions.
• Simone Marcato (Cividale): 19 points and 4 assists in a losing effort, but forced into difficult shots under Rimini’s defensive pressure.

Tactical Story

Rimini head coach Michele Minnelli deployed a switching man‑to‑man defense that frequently trapped Cividale’s pick‑and‑roll actions, forcing the home team into 16 turnovers. Offensively, Rimini exploited mismatches in the high post, with Raucci acting as a facilitator for cutters. Cividale, meanwhile, struggled from beyond the arc (5/22 from three) and lacked secondary ball‑handlers to break Rimini’s pressure. The visitors’ transition offense—responsible for 22 fast‑break points—was the decisive difference.

Standings Impact

The victory moved Edilizia Moderna Rimini into third place in the Serie A2 Girone Rosso standings, keeping pressure on the top two for home‑court advantage in the postseason. For UEB Gesteco Cividale, the loss dropped them to seventh, now level on points with teams in the play‑in zone. With only a handful of regular‑season games remaining, both clubs face critical matchups in the final weeks of May. Rimini will look to build on this momentum when they host a mid‑table opponent, while Cividale must regroup before a difficult road trip.