Starlites GIG 58 Bupa Luxol 63
(8-18, 16-11, 17-20, 17-14)
Luxol's seventh victory of the season, against Starlites, has marked their entry into the play offs, and they have taken both Athleta and Hibernains with them, leaving a solitary place to fight for. Luxol surely relish their encounters with Starlites, although the losers made a huge effort, towards the end of the match, but it all came to naught.
The champions recovered GJ Cordina for this encounter. Starlites had Miguel Falzon injured and Sean Borg missing.
The Violets had a bright start, with an early 10-0 run, as William Ahlberg and Nikola Vasovic made their points. Starlites reacted with an 8-4 run, mostly from Mitchell Brewe, and also with a trey.
Luxol ended the period with a brace of hoops. In the next session Brewe continued with his points. Ahlberg sank an early triple, and Vasovic added on three more baskets, but Starlites crept closer, halving their deficit. At the interval the champions held a 29-24 advantage.
After the break Starlites kept up their good work, and overturned the score, with an initial 9-2 run. Luxol bucked up, and proceeded to amke up a solid 17-2 run, with a couple of Vasovic triples.
Their new advantage was gnawed down, as Stralites made up a three-hoop spread, for a 41-49 deficit, through Alec Felice Pace and Robert Bonnici points. In the last quarter Brewe's further hoops had an answer, with a 10-2 Luxol run, as Cordina netted a brace of treys. Starlites came back, with a 10-2 run of their own, with Ryan carabott and Felice Pace triples, but Luxol's diminished lead was enough to keep them ahead till the final buzzer.
Starlites: S. Pace 4, T. Grech, R. Bonnici 7, I. Felice Pace 2, M. Scerri, I. Pace, A. Felice Pace 15, R. Carabott 3, O. Psaila, J. Wait, M. Brewe 27
Luxol: CJ Cordina 8, M. Sjoberg, N. Vasovic 18, J. Melillo, JP Schembri 2, K. Dimech 6, W. Ahlberg 20, A. Micallef Trigona, K. Meyer 9
Referees: T. Mantere, E. Mangani, I. Simic
Gzira Athleta 85 Hibernians 81
(after overtime)
(16-15, 20-20, 20-18, 16-19) - (13-9)
With both sides assured of a play-off place, this top of the table clash was a battle to end the group games in front. Athleta made a giant step in that direction, to go two games clear of their opponents, but they had to do it in overtime. Once again, the protagonist was their American import, Jon Feiler, as he helped himself to a bagful of points. Although Hibs had beaten Athleta twice, in earlier matches, the three league games all went in Athleta's favour. Athleta included Matthew Gouder, now that he is back home, from abroad.
A Roderick Vella trey, and Alvaro Lizaur points had the Paolites in an early advantage. Athleta's reply had them on a 10-2 run, with an Ivan Mitrovic triple. Hibs were again ahead, before the end of the session.
The next period was evenly shared, as Hibs held their lead for some time, with two more Vella treys, but Athleta made a late surge, with a 9-2 run, to hop in front. Vella netted a late triple, to take his side a point in arrears. at the interval Athleta were just ahead, at 36-35.
After the break it was still close. The lead fully changed hands nine times. Chad Patus points, and a trey, with Marco Matijevic 's efforts, were not enough for the Paolites, to end the session in front. Feiler's continuous points, and a brace of Mitrovic triples, had Athleta 56-53 ahead. In the last session Hibs were still chasing. Mitrovic's next trey had Patus doing the same, in reply.
Vella's fifth triple, and more points had Hibs going in front. Feiler free shots had the teams on a level score, with overtime being the answer. Athleta took another advantage, keeping their opponents at bay, until Patus' free throws brought about another even score. Athleta obtained the game's last advantage, and free shots sealed their victory.
Athleta: M. Naudi 20, P. Shoults 4, F. Mifsud Bonnici, L. Stefanovic, O. Said 4, M. Gouder 2, N. Xuereb, S. Vincic, I. Mitrovic 25, J. Feile 40
Hibs: R. Vella 20, P. Attard, K. Sultana, L. Farrugia 4, S. Attard, I. Bonett, L. Tardito, A. Axiaq 6, M. Matijevic 5, A. Lizaur17, F. Mariani, C. Patus 29
Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, E. Man