The A2 season has begun, and AI weighs in on the two promoted teams and the team facing direct relegation
With Forlì’s victory on the road against Cividale, the A2 season has officially kicked off: we asked Artificial Intelligence to break down the championship. Here’s what it told us.
Taking into account the rosters, the teams’ stated ambitions, and what we’ve seen in the preseason and the very first early-season game, the teams I’d place in the top group are Sassari, Forlì, Pesaro, Brindisi, Fortitudo Bologna, and Rimini, with Cividale right behind them. Sassari is explicitly identified as one of the top favorites, while Livorno is considered among the best-equipped teams.
One important thing: there are two promotion spots this year. The regular-season champion advances directly to Serie A; the second promotion spot is awarded through the playoffs. If I had to name two teams today, September 27, I’d say: Sassari and Forlì..
As for Forlì, yesterday’s victory really impressed me: an 85-68 win in Cividale, on the home court of the team that had just won the Super Cup, and especially without Carey. Forlì was ahead 48–23 at halftime and essentially controlled the entire second half. Santos Silva posted 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks; Berdini had 8 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, and Ceccato had 15. Basket Inside Additionally, before the game, Pillastrini had called Forlì perhaps the best team of the entire preseason, noting that they had never lost.
Sassari, on the other hand, has the greatest long-term potential in my view: they’re coming off a season in Serie A, have built a roster designed to return to the top flight immediately, and even on the eve of their season opener, Sacripanti and Alessandro Gentile named them one of the top favorites for promotion.
Right behind them, I’d put Pesaro and Brindisi, followed by Rimini and Fortitudo. I wouldn’t write off Cividale just yet after a single game: the 68-85 loss is a tough one, but we’re talking about the team that won the Super Cup just a few days ago by beating Fortitudo and Rimini.
It’ll be interesting to see over the next 5–6 games whether Forlì is truly the team we saw yesterday: if they maintain that depth and intensity—even with Carey available—they can easily contend for first place and thus flip my prediction with Sassari.
Since today, September 27, 2026, only the Cividale-Forlì game has already been played (68-85) and all the others have yet to tip off, I’d treat this as a starting grid, not a mathematical prediction. Forlì, however, has climbed significantly after yesterday’s performance: they were already coming off five consecutive preseason wins.
My 2026/27 A2 Standings
1 Sassari Direct promotion
2 Forlì Playoff/promotion favorite
3 Brindisi Very strong contender
4 Fortitudo Bologna Promotion contender
5 Rimini Top of the standings
6 Pesaro Top of the standings
7 Avellino Potential dark horse
8 Livorno Playoffs/Play-In
9 Cividale: Playoffs/Play-In
10 Rieti: Play-In
11 Pistoia: Play-In
12 Turin: Play-In
13 Urania Milan: Play-In
14 Cento: Safe from relegation
15 JuveCaserta Avoids relegation
16 Montecatini Playout zone
17 Ruvo di Puglia Playout zone
18 Vigevano Playout zone
19 JuVi Cremona Playout zone
20 Mestre Direct relegation
