This encounter between the top and bottom teams produced the expected result. Depiro pressed from the start to open up a good lead, and then coach Charles Bonnici introduced his bench players, and they responded well. Suns played their usual gritty game, and tried the best they could against vastly superior opposition.
An opening 18-0 run paved the way for the champions, limiting Suns to just a single hoop. In the second session Depiro didn’t produce so many points, but their lead kept on increasing. At the interval it was a 44-8 game.
After the break Depiro once more made a strong 17-0 run but Suns had a good ending to the session, to their standards.
In the final quarter some Depiro players enhanced their personal points tally and Suns’ points came mainly from the free-throw line. Depiro now play their last group game, before they concentrate on the defence of their league title.
Suns: 6 Diane Falzon
Depiro: 17 Dorianne Galea 16 Rhian Spiteri 14 Joselle Cardona
Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro
This Luxol victory ensured them of the third spot in the table and left Loyola to face Depiro in the semis.
Loyola had quite a good outing in the first part of the match, but the third quarter was disastrous for them, and they couldn’t quite recover in the final session, although they came close.
It was a low-scoring game at the start, with the two teams close to each other.
In the second period Loyola overtook their opponents, and from a hoop down they ended the session on equal terms, for a 17-17 half-time score.
After the break, Luxol started to forge ahead once more, and though they found stiff opposition from Loyola, it was Rachel Camilleri’s three baskets at the end which helped the Violets to a 35-22 lead after three sessions.
The final quarter saw Loyola’s efforts to get back in the game bear fruit, and they arrived to a 37-39 score, but Mandy Sciortino was there for Luxol and her points in a closing 11-0 run proved to be the deciding factor. Loyola were unlucky to lose captain Carina Gauci out injured in the second session.
Loyola: 12 Adalia Bonanno 11 Christine Grima
Luxol: 16 Mandy Sciortino 14 Rachel Camilleri
Referees: Gordon Barbara, Jennifer Mangani
Naxxar overcame a hesitant start and made the double over Kerygma. They seemed disappointed at missing out on the play-offs, and had a miserable start. Kerygma took full advantage, and a 12-2 opening run gave them confidence. They kept on till the end of the session and into the next one, to lead 24-11, before Naxxar could start their comeback. At the interval it was still Kerygma at 26-18.
After the break Naxxar came fully into their own, and a mid-session 15-0 run helped them to a good lead to fall back on, and they could play more confidently. Kerygma picked up the pace again, making their points, but they were not so near as to affect the result, and Naxxar had a comfortable finish, for their fourth league win.
Naxxar: 18 Claire Hawkins 13 Annabel Busuttil
Kerygma: 15 Josette Calleja 12 Elaine Cutajar
Referees: Jean Paul Sammut, Alfred Carbonaro
Standings: 22 Depiro Still (11-0); 17 Hibs Medsea (7-3); 17 Luxol Vodafone (7-3); 17 Loyola Xuereb Inst. (6-5); 14 Naxxar Danone (4-5); 11 Kerygma (1-9); 10 SN Suns JC (0-10).