Gzira Athleta 56 Hibernians 77
(18-13, 11-14, 16-19, 11-31)
This was Athleta's first match of the season, whilst the Paolites made it a brace of wins, after a minimal victory over Depiro. The height situation, and the Malta foreigner issue, have made the Paolites a formidable side. They shocked their opponents in the last session, after very balanced three sessions of play. Athleta had changes from last season. The most notable one was the absence of long-standing coach, Joe Galea, who has now ceded his place to Ray Muscat, in his first connection with Athleta.
There was also the absence of evergreen Michael Naudi, who was abroad, along with Billy Zammit, just on the bench. Athleta have a new American, Stephan Shepherd, who started like a house on fire, but was marshalled later on, especially by Anton Axiaq. There was also the intrigue of Sasha Saakian, on the bench, and Ivan Mitrovic also donned the Athleta outfit this season.
Athleta went 7-2 in front, with Alvaro Lizaur netting a Hibs trey in reply. Another 9-2 run, with a Mitrovic triple, had Athleta in a better advantage, but Chad Patus closed down the deficit, with a brace of hoops for Hibs. In the second period it was the Paolites with an early 9-0 run, mostly from Patus, also with a trey. Athleta responded, as they regained their lead, lost it once more, but a late one-handed triple by Peter Shoults, in the last second of play, had Athleta 29-27 ahead, at the interval.
After the break the triples flooded in. There as patus, with two, and Lizaur and Luke Farrugia putting in theirs for Hibs, but Athleta had Shoults in excellent form, as he poured in no less than four triples. The lead had changed six times, and in the last stages of the session the Paolites once more forged in front, with a slight 46-45 advantage.
Athleta were fully surprised in the last period, as Hibs struck with an 11-2 run, as Lizaur, also with a trey, and Patus took their side to a double figure lead. Athleta were hit once more, as Lizaur nailed two more triples, in another 12-0 run, and Hibs secured their victory. Athleta managed a 7-0 run, as Motrovic netted his second trey, but it was hibs with a four basket run, to close down the game.
Athleta: F. Mifsud Bonnici, D. Camilleri, S. Shepherd 21, P. Shoults 21, N. Xuereb 4, O. said, L. Stefanovic, S. Vincic, I. Mitrovic 10, S. Saakian
Hibs: R. Vella 3, P. Attard, L. Farrugia 7, S. Attard , I. Bonett, K. Caruana 1, A. Axiaq 7, M. Matijevic 1, C. Patus 31, F. Mariani , A. Lizaur 27
Referees: E. Mangani, I. Simic, Z. Dobrosavljevic
Starlites still in, Depiro out
Cynergi Depiro 74 Starlites GIG 80
(15-21, 22-24, 22-16, 15-19)
The match was crucial for both sides, to remain in the competition, by evading their second defeat. Starlites managed this, as they held the loin's share of advantages. Depiro came back from two difficult deficits, and very nearly made it, but they just failed. Depiro fielded their American, Lene Duckinson, but it was Dominic Scafidi who stole the show, with his superlative performance. It was a shame that he had to finish on the losing end.
Depiro took an early lead, but Starlites replied solidly, with a 17-3 run, as Shawn Pace and Robert Bonnici made their triples. The rest of the session consisted of free throws, as Starlites held on to their advantage. In the second period Depiro overturned the score, as Andrew Aquilina and Scafidi put in a triple each. Starlites regained their lead, with Depiro running them close for some time, just behind. In the latter stages Starlites came up with an 8-2 run, and another Bonnici trey, to post a 45-37 advantage, at the interval.
After the break Bonnici again sank a triple, but Depiro replied resolutely, with a 12-4 run, by David Bugeja and Scafidi points, the latter with another trey. They went near, but Starlites answered with a 9-0 run, through Mitchell Brewe and Ryan Carabott, for a solid lead. Depiro found time, before the end of the session, to post a 10-0 run, again through Scafidi and Bugeja, to arrive at a 59-61 score. In the last period Scafidi took Depiro ahead, but Starlites jumped in front again. Scafidi and Aquilina made more treys for Depiro, but so did Pace for Starlites, as they held on to their lead. Bugeja took Depiro within contention, and in the last seconds they broke away, but Kurt Xuereb was adjudged to have made a barging foul. He lost his cool, and was ejected for his pains. Starlites made the resulting free shots, and they were home and dry, to advance in the competition, leaving Depiro to be eliminated.
Depiro: E. Briffa, D. Bugeja 17, M. Agius, L. Duckinson, A. Aquilina 8, N. Grech, A. Attard, M. Mallia3 , A. Quiros 2, K. Xuereb , M. Borg, D. Scafidi 42
Starlites: S. Pace 8, M. Azzopardi, R. Bonnici 19, A. Schembri, S. Borg 2, M. Falzon, A. Felice Pace 6, R. Carabott 11, O. Psaila, N. Andrejevic, J. Wait 4, M. Brewe 30
Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, T. Mantere