WILLIE VASSALLO
Mellieha SVS Reflections 51
Depiro 58
(14-16)(10-18)(12-10)(15-14)
Depiro’s first appearance this season resulted in an opening win, as they overcame the Mellieha obstacle, to guarantee a place in the Shield semi finals. After a faltering start Depiro could dictate the play for most of the time, and Mellieha were always chasing their opponents. True, they came somewhat close on a couple of occasions, but Depiro found means to open up their lead again, and assure their victory.
Mellieha were still without the injured Samuel Aquilina and Matthew Cauchi. Depiro had a foreigner, the domiciled Macedonian, Marko Arsovski. This season they are under the guidance of Dalibor Miatovic.
Mellieha had a bright opening, with a 7-0 run, but in the space of less than two minutes, Depiro turned the score around. An Arsovski trey started a 10-0 run, before Mellieha could reply, to tie the score. Depiro went ahead again, and kept in front till the end of the session.
In the second quarter Mellieha were still chasing, but they were hit by an 8-0 run, as Antoine Costa sank two treys, for a 28-17 lead. Mellieha recovered, mainly through Chris Sammut, but Depiro put in the last two hoops of the period, for a 34-24 half time score.
After the break Costa’s p[oints extended Depiro’s advantage, but Mellieha’s insistence saw them coming back, in the later stages of the session, as Julian Naudi and Sammut sank treys. Depiro still enjoyed a 44-36 lead, with a quarter to go.
Mellieha’s efforts at the start pushed them nearer, but Depiro settled down again, and an 8-0 run opened up a handsome lead. Naudi and Sammut again produced treys, but Depiro broke the sequence, to keep Mellieha at bay. There wasn’t enough time to get within reach, as Mellieha tasted their second defeat.
Mellieha: 21 Julian Naudi, 16 Chris Sammut
Depiro: 16 Emanuel Lupo, 12 Antoine Costa 11 Marko Arsovski
Referees: Gordon Barbara, Alfred Carbonaro
Qormi Kia 52
Mosta 42
(16-7)(15-10)(9-11)912-14)
MBA Shield 2 Div. Men
Both sides were coming from an opening victory, and Qormi’s win put them ahead of the others. Qormi exploited Mosta’s indecisive start, to open a good lead. Mosta’s reply, though making the score a closer one, could not hepl them in taking something from the game.
An Antoine Grech trey opened Qormi’s account, and Roberto Formosa’s points helped them to a 10-3 lead. Mosta were not co-ordinating well, but they managed to stop Qormi from increasing their lead, but failing to get any closer.
In the second quarter, after some ineffectual play from both sides, it was Qormi again, with their fast play, who made an 11-2 run, with a Simon Cauchi trey. This was stopped by a trio of hoops from Mosta, started by Joe Micallef’s baskets. Qormi recovered at the end, through Formosa’a free shots, for a 31-17 lead at the interval.
After the break Mosta began to find more space, and Qormi had to do some chasing. Steve Gouder was effective under the boards, but Carlos Bugeja’s trey for Qormi kept their opponents at a distance, and after three sessions it was still 40-28 for Qormi.
The final quarter saw Mosta trying to make up the leeway quickly. Qormi’s defence wasn’t that steady, and Mosta began inching nearer. Bugeja came up with his hoops, to keep Qormi ahead enough, as the clock started to wind down. Then Qormi’s breaks put paid to Mosta’s hopes, and the Kia side went to the top of the table.
Qormi: 10 Anton Axiaq
Mosta: 12 Steve Gouder, 11 Mark Spiteri
Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Stephen Micallef
Sliema Wanderers 23
Luxol 67
(5-16)(5-9)(11-14)(2-28)
MBA Shield Women B
This first Group B match saw Luxol make the first step towards a place in the semi finals. As expected, they had a tranquil time against a Sliema side who had an uphill task, against more experienced adversaries, although at times Luxol seemed to fall into their old penchant of giving a helping hand to their opponents, with their slipshod play.
Sliema: 13 Samantha Tabone
Luxol: 24 Beverlee Zammit, 20 Francesca Psaila Savona, 12 Emma Moore
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Anthony Micallef