Caffe Moak Luxol 69 Starlites GIG 71
(after overtime)
(14-16, 17-8, 17-23, 14-20) - (8-10)
The champions faltered again, and now only have a slim chance of making the play offs. They could have won in normal time, but missed free throws, in the last session enabled Starlites to remain in touch, and force overtime. Luxol were without skipper, Sarah Pace, for this important match, along with Martina Darmanin, and Ina Baena medina was roped in. Monique Caruana was also included.
Luxol had the opening leads, with Starlites tying the score twice. The champions then made up a 10-4 run, ending with a Cristina Grima triple, to hols a first session advantage. In the next period Luxol were increasing their lead, to a double figure one. Starlites had difficulty in keeping up, but Patricia Arguello netted a late triple. Maria brown replied for the champions, and Luxol were leading 31-18 at the interval.
After the break Kay Portelli sank a Luxol trey, but their advantage was whittled down, with an 11-2 Starlites run. Luxol still kept their lead, but Starlites were getting nearer, and Arguello netted another trey. Promptly there was Cristina Sollami sinking a triple, as Luxol ended the session on a 47-41 advantage.
In the last quarter Stralites overturned the score, as they made up a 12-2 run. Luxol tied the score, only for Arguello to sink two more triples, for Starlites. Christine Curmi was dominant. For Luxol, in the paint, and her side were ahead, with seconds to go, when Kirsty Galea burst through the Luxol defence, to take the match into overtime.
Luxol relied to Starlites' first hoop, and held a lead, until Galea came up again, this time with a triple, to tie the score, and it was left to Iranzu Drake, to obtain the winning points, for Starlites, from the free shot line.
Luxol: M. Caruana, Ni. Vella, I. Baena Medina, No. Vella 5, C. Grima 10, K. Portelli 5, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Brown 18, C. Sollami 7, C. Curmi 24
Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina, K. Galea 20, J. Doughty 3, S. Farrugia, H. Acreman, I. Drake 16, M. Riolo, L. Pirotta, P. Arguello 22, M. Cutajar, S. Davis 6, A. Lupo 4
Referees: T. Mantere, N. Azzopardi, I. Marjanovic
Athleta in important victory
Depiro 60 Gzira Athleta 70
(11-15, 23-23, 7-17, 19-15)
Athleta made a good step towards a place in the play offs, leaving Depiro to battle it out, with Luxol, for a final place. All Depiro's efforts came to naught, as Amelia Simmons produced a winning performance for Athleta, grabbing a huge tally of points.
Beverlee Zammit's trey gave Athleta a lead, but Depiro made up a 9-2 run, ending with a Nicole Borg triple. That was the cue for Simmons, to come up with a personal 8-0 run, and take Athleta ahead. In the next period Athleta improved on their advantage, with two more Zammit triples. Martina Scicluna sank a couple of Depiro treys, taking her side nearer, but Zammit netted her fourth triple, for Athleta. Steffi DeMartino's late points, and a trey, had Depiro nearer, till the interval, as Athleta were 38-34 ahead.
After the break Depiro fell away, allowing their opponents to steer clear, with Simmons happily pouring in the points. Agius did net a Depiro triple, but her side had fallen 41-55 behind, at the end of the session. In the last session Antoinette Borg's trey, for Athleta, thwarted Depiro's intentions of going nearer. Agius also sank a third trey, but Simmons' points did not abate. and athleta were comfortable in their advantage, to go a game ahead of their adversaries.
Depiro: M. Scicluna, T. Mifsud, L. Vella, M. Bonett 2, S. DeMartino 20, N. Agius 16, No. Agius, A. Lloyd 10, C. Ciantar 6
Athleta: N. Borg, B. Zammit 14, L. Duncan 6, A. Simmons 41, D. Said Hollier 2, A. Borg 5, J. Schembri 2, S. Vella, E. Pace
Referees: E. Mangani, I. Simic, C. Xuereb