Ravenna, September 18, 2026 – Fortitudo falls 85-83 after overtime and sees its run in the Supercup stop in the semifinals. The first official game, at the Pala De André in Ravenna, is bitter for Matteo Fantinelli and teammates who fail to confirm their preseason performances and ultimately yield to the solid Cividale coached by Bolognese Stefano Pillastrini. The Friulians win the rebound battle, make good use of too many errors, with many turnovers by a Fortitudo team that tries 2-3 times to escape during the match, maximum advantage 40-50 at the start of the third quarter, but never manages to deliver the knockout blow. Cividale, with the usual excellent protagonist Redivo on the outside, holds firm, exploiting the skills of their Argentine sharpshooter, but also of a team, led by captain Berti, that shows youth and boldness.
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Too many costly mistakes
Fortitudo must instead complain about too many mistakes that proved costly, but it is better to discover one’s weak points now when it is still preseason, the Supercup, although the first official challenge of the season, is still a sort of continuation of the summer friendlies, when the two points will really matter. Cavina proposes the starting five with Zanelli, Morris, Anumba, Sorokas, and Guariglia. On the other side, Cividale gives up Knight on the roster but only as a formality.
The protest about the day and time
The team presentations, the national anthem, the irony of the Fossa who displays the ironic banner “Friday at 5 pm, work in progress,” wearing yellow and orange jackets, clearly protesting the day and time when the semifinal with Cividale is played, and then the start of the semifinal. Balanced start, then Fortitudo takes control of the match shooting very effectively even though Cividale stays close due to too many turnovers by Effe and many free throws scored. The Friulians chase but are always there with the usual excellent Redivo already at 14 at halftime, with Flats Service leading by 5. The first double-digit lead for Fortitudo comes at the start of the second half, with 5 straight points from Anumba, the best for Effe for the 40-50 at 21’. The end of the third quarter is almost all Cividale’s as they go on a 10-0 run to take the lead 57-56, before Zanelli’s three-pointer puts Effe back ahead by +2 at the last break.
Overtime
Shooting percentages drop in the last quarter. Cavina has to give up Guariglia, brings Sorokas back to center. Effe relies on Morris who scores 11 straight points but risks ruining his performance with a couple of gross mistakes. Cividale takes the lead 75-73, then at the end Anumba is fouled, temporarily leaves due to injury, and Zanelli from the free-throw line makes 2 out of 2 sending the game to overtime. In the overtime Fortitudo fails to find rhythm in attack, loses Morris to fouls and then gets hypnotized by Berti who is decisive at the end on both ends of the court.
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The coach’s words
“As we imagined, we faced a team we knew, that had absences but has a system that rewards players who have played together for a long time – confirms coach Demis Cavina – Great credit goes to Cividale, for us the regret remains because we stopped playing when we could have bitten into the game, settling for open three-point shots and letting them come back too quickly.”
Club
Wednesday is scheduled for the first hearing of the arbitration procedure between Matteo Gentilini srl and 2B srl, regarding the right of first refusal exercised by 2B on Gentilini’s shares of Sporting Fortitudo, with the dispute referring to the 81.4% or 15% of the shares for sale. The box score UEB CIVIDALE 85
FORTITUDO BOLOGNA 83 (after overtime)
Gesteco Cividale: Vecchiola 8, Redivo 28, Bottelli 7, Ferrari 6, Berti 11; Costi 5, Cesana 9, Bellinaso 2, Tio Tiagande 9; Mobio ne, Sarr ne, Knight ne. Coach Pillastrini. Flats Service Bologna: Zanelli 5, Morris 20, Anumba 12, Sorokas 11, Guariglia 6; Sarto 12, Moretti 5, Fantinelli 7, Radonjic 2, Mazzola 3; Campomori ne. Coach Cavina. Referees: Pepponi, Galasso, Patti. Notes: periods 24-29, 40-45, 57-59, 75-75. Two-point shots: Cividale 20/32; Fortitudo 19/37. Three-point shots: 7/27; 11/33. Free throws: 24/28; 12/16. Rebounds: 39; 32.
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