McDonalds Depiro 49 Honey Athleta 50

(10-6, 8-13, 17-18, 14-13)

The game went right down to the wire as Athleta finally managed to get the better of one of the top clubs.

They dented Depiro’s hopes of staying in a sole spot at the top of the standings. A good opening by Depiro had Athleta responding well and then both teams stuck close to one another for the rest of the match.

This was decided right at the end with less than a second left on a hotly contested free throw.

Depiro had Justine Xuereb in place of Maria Bonett. Athleta recovered Stephanie Pisani but Raissa Sciberras was again just on the bench.

Antoinette Borg and Vontisha Woods helped Depiro to a bright start as they established a 10-2 run.

This took time until it was Kelly Busuttil with her personal points who dragged Athleta a little bit closer but they were still at a deficit after the opening session of play.

Athleta took the game to their opponents in the second period and another long 11-2 run with an Aleksandra Ratomska triple had Athleta out in front.

Depiro rallied back late in the period with Christine Sammut and Tina De Martino points as they cut down to within a point of their opponents at the interval on a low 18-19 score.

After the break, Athleta edged away a little but Depiro responded with a 7-0 run and a Steffi De Martino triple. Athleta did not take long to regain their advantage with an 8-2 run and Ratomska points.

Depiro were still close and it was Francesca Bianco twice once with a triple to bring the two teams on a tie.

Athleta were just in front at 37-35 at the start of the final session. Depiro went ahead once more with a Sam Brincat triple and extended their lead with more Bianco hoops but Athleta remained resilient to grab another advantage.

The teams were level once more before Kelly Busuttil nailed an Athleta trey. Depiro took another late lead but Busuttil wrapped up the game for Athleta with her free throws the last one coming less than a second from time.

Depiro A. Mifsud, G. Mifsud, J. Xuereb, 6 S. Brincat, 6 V. Woods, 9 F. Bianco, 3 T. De Martino, 13 A. Borg, 4 C. Sammut, M. Mifsud, S. Micallef, 7 S. De Martino

Athleta 3 M. De Martino, 13 A. Ratomska, 6 C. Ciantar, L. Calleja, 7 L. Sciberras, M. Azzopardi Duca, G. Muscat, S. Pisani, F. Farrugia, 16 K. Busuttil, C. Mifsud

Referees C. Terribile, L. Camilleri