Compleet IS SW 76

BUPA Luxol 68

(18-10)(18-18)(15-27)(25-13)

Compleet will finish the second round of play in top place, having taken a good lead over their main rivals. Although both teams were sure of a place in the play-off final, it was still an intense match, considering the rivalry, with Compleet edging out their adversaries with a strong ending to the game, as they recovered from a BUPA revival after the break.

Compleet had Silvio Cassar and Chris Sammut unavailable, but recovered Addison Bonnici, who had missed their last six matches. The violets had Reuben Dalli in lieu of Beppe Micallef Trigona.

At the start it was Compleet with their opening hoops, and the champions replying at every opportunity, until Compleet could make out a good 12-1 run, with Addison Bonnici in the thick of the action.

BUPA recovered, late in the period, netting a couple of hoops, but they were still at a deficit.

In the second quarter Robert Azzopardi sank a trey for the Violets, but Compleet had a ready reply, with a 7-2 run, and an Etienne Bezzina triple. When BUPA tried to rally back, it was Bezzina with another trey, as Compleet went 32-20 in front. The champions recovered, and posted an 8-2 run, but at the interval they were still 28-36 behind.

After the break Compleet kept their distance for some time, but Marco Matijevic was making his points, including a triple. Compleet were in front, but the Violets managed an 8-0 run, to take the lead.

Compleet replied twice, but Steve Schembri’s trey for BUPA began a 9-2 run, although Julian Naudi sank a last second trey for Compleet. Score at 55-51 for BUPA . It was Steve Schembri with a second trey, and more points, as the champions extended their lead in the final period.

Michael Naudi and Omar Said had other ideas, as Compleet made up a good 10-2 run, with a Naudi triple, for a slight lead.

The violets went back in front, but Compleet came up with another solid 11-0 run, and a Said trey, and the champions were left behind. They couldn’t make up the leeway in the little time that was left, and Compleet improved on their lead in the standings.

Compleet: 19 M. Naudi, 13 J. Naudi, D. Camilleri, 8 E. Bezzina, 2 J. Valdiserra, 18 O. Said, C. Calleja, 10 A. Bonnici, 6 K. Baldacchino

BUPA: R. Dalli, 4 M. Mercieca, 5 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 4 A. Borg, 6 A. Portelli, N. Vasovic, T. Paris, 15 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 17 M. Matijevic, 17 S. Schembri

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Jean Paul Sammut, Clive Terribile