Hosts DEAC KA and Helsinki BA served up the highest-quality contest of this year’s Cívis Cup so far on Day 2, with the Finns edging a one-possession thriller. Elsewhere, Bassano remained unbeaten, Inter Bratislava won a crucial matchup, and Forlì picked up a valuable victory.
Day 2 opened with a pivotal clash between Czech side GBA and Slovakia’s Inter Bratislava. Having beaten Rátgéber Academy in their opener, GBA knew another victory would take them a major step closer to securing a place in one of Sunday’s medal games. Inter, meanwhile, needed to bounce back from their narrow defeat to Bassano to keep their own medal hopes alive. The Slovaks started stronger, but GBA took control in the second quarter to send the teams into halftime level. The contest remained tight after the break, with Inter holding a slender advantage throughout. Having spent much of the second half chasing the game, GBA began to run out of steam late in the fourth, allowing the Slovaks to open up a double-digit lead. There was no way back for the Czech side, as Inter secured an 82–75 victory to put themselves in a strong position ahead of their final group game. GBA now need a major upset against Orange1 Basket Bassano.
The Italians, meanwhile, delivered a dominant performance against Rátgéber Academy. The Hungarian side struggled to overcome Bassano’s considerable advantage in size and physicality, and the gap steadily widened. Although the Pécs outfit cut the deficit in the final quarter, they never seriously threatened to turn the game around. Four Bassano players scored in double figures as a balanced team effort secured a 91–72 win, leaving the Italians within touching distance of the final.
Group A took centre stage in the evening, with hosts DEAC looking to build on their opening-day victory by challenging Helsinki Basketball Academy. They did exactly that, fuelled by an outstanding performance from Tamás Kiss, who proved almost impossible to stop. The Finns appeared ready to take control in the second quarter, but DEAC emerged from halftime with renewed energy and battled their way back into contention. A series of spectacular plays helped the hosts draw level heading into the final minute, only for Reino Saivosalmi to knock down a clutch three-pointer and swing the momentum Helsinki’s way. DEAC still had a chance to win it on their final possession, but the shot would not fall, allowing HBA to celebrate an 85–83 victory. Both teams could take pride in their performances after treating the crowd to the tournament’s best game so far.
The final matchup of the day also proved closely contested—for three quarters, at least. Pallacanestro Forlì made the better start against Basket Brno but could not shake off the Czech side. The Italians’ lead had been trimmed to a narrow margin by halftime, and Brno used a 9–2 run in the third quarter to move ahead. The opening minutes of the fourth, however, settled the contest. Forlì reeled off 16 unanswered points to put the game beyond Brno’s reach, outscoring their opponents 21–3 in the decisive period to claim an 80–58 victory.
Cívis Cup – Day 2 Results
Orange1 Basket Bassano (ITA) – Rátgéber Academy (HUN) 91–72
DEAC KA (HUN) – Helsinki BA (FIN) 83–85