Independence Cup - Men
In the second day of play the remainder of the group matches were played.
In Pool 1 there was a game left, when Bupa Luxol met Depiro. Bupa started with a victory, and Depiro had a loss, both against champions, Hibernians. Depiro not only needed a victory, but with a good advantage, and they managed this, despite being well behind just before the end of the opening period. They recovered and strode past their opponents, but it was a last second triple, by Omar Said, that gave them a nine point winning advantage, which was just enough for them to oust out the Paolites on basket difference. Luxol ended with a positive 3 point margin, Depiro were on a 1 point negative score, and Hibs were left with a 2 point negative margin, which put them in third place, and out of the reckoning, for a semi final spot.
In Pool 2 there were a total of three matches. Gzira Athleta recorded their second victory, beating Starlites GIG, to go to a sole top place. Then it was Floriana MCP Car parks, who had the better of Starlites, despite a late rally from the latter side. That gave the Greens a second win, which was enough for them to advance to the semis, behind Athleta, who were awarded a walk over, in the last encounter, against MSC Balkan Fusion, who cited difficulty in forming a team, due to injuries and work difficulties of their players.
The picture was complete, as the semi finals became clear.
On Sunday, the first semi, between Bupa Luxol and Floriana MCP Car Parks, is at 9.50 am, with the second semi final, between Gzira Athleta and Depiro, to be played at 12.30pm. The resulting final will then be played out at 4.30pm.
Pool 1
Bupa Luxol 51 Depiro 60
(36-26, 15-34)
Luxol: V. Jandric 12, L. Caruana Montaldo, JP Schembri , N. Vasovic , W. Ahlberg 3, S. Deguara 22, F. Sekulic 14, S. Cappello
Depiro: J. Attard , D. Farrugia , A. Attard , N. Grech 2, O. Said 11, K. Hamilton 7, A. Chomo 9, E. Briffa, M. Borg , T. Steen 31
Referees: B. Vassallo, N. Azzopardi, V. Nikolic
Standings - Pool 1
Bupa Luxol 2 1 1 3 +3 pts
Depiro 2 1 1 3 - 1 pt
Hibernians 2 1 1 3 - 2 pts
Pool 2
Starlites GIG 53 Gzira Athleta 74
(27-41, 26-33)
Starlites: O. Psaila, M. Azzopardi , R. Bonnici 8, I. Pace, N. Formosa 4, M. Falzon2 , R. Carabott 3, M. Scerri , B. Biblija 12, J. Stotts 17, N. Stoyanvski 7
Athleta: S. Vincic 2, F. Mifsud Bonnic, J. Wait 2, P. Shoults 6, M. Gauci Montaldo 2, A. Perunicic 6, N. Xuereb 10, M. Gouder 10, E. Khalid 4, V. Pace 12, I. Mitrovic 14, C. Shanks 6
Referees: B. Vassallo, N. Azzopardi, V. Nikolic
Floriana MCP Car Parks 56 Starlites GIG 54
(28-29, 28-25)
Floriana: S. Pace , D. Bugeja 20, D. Camilleri , T. Grech , S. Borg , K. Caruana, K. Liivamagi 4, C. Calleja 6, A. Portelli , K. Xuereb 6, G. Hulsen 20, D. Agius
Starlites: O. Psaila , M. Azzopardi , R. Bonnici 10, I. Pace , N. Formosa 7, M. Falzon 1, R. Carabott 8, M. Scerri , B. Biblija 9, J. Stotts 10, N. Stoyanvski 9
Referees: B. Vassallo, V. Nikolic, C. Xuereb
MSC Balkan Fusion 0 Gzira Athleta 30
Gzira Athleta were awarded a w/o MSC Balkan Fusion
Standings - Pool 2
Gzira Athleta 3 3 0 6
Floriana MCP Car Parks 3 2 1 5
Starlites GIG 3 1 2 4
MSC Balkan Fusion 3 0 3 2
Independence Cup - Women
The teams played out the three remaining games. Starlites GIG obtained their second straight victory, beating Caffe Moak Luxol, who were still without a win, after two matches. The two sides yet to record a victory, champions, Hibernians, and Luxol then played out their last match. The Paolites frittered away a good advantage, and late Luxol triples forced out an overtime. Luxol kept up their positive streak, to emerge winners, and evade the bottom position. Hibs , still without a number of players, will have to play the top side, in the opening semi final.
In the last match, to determine the top placing, the two teams still on a winning streak, Starlites GIG and Depiro faced each other. It was Starlites to grace the top of the standings, having the better of Depiro, and bring the semi final positions to a definite picture.
In the semi final slots, on Sunday, the first one to be played is between Starlites GIG and champions, Hibernians. This is on for 8.30am. Then the second semi will be between Depiro and Caffe Moak Luxol, with an 11.10 am time.
Caffe Moak Luxol 40 Starlites GIG 45
(16-26, 24-19)
Luxol: S. Pace, B. Zammit, Ni. Vella, M. Caruana, No. Vella, M. Pollacco, K. Portelli, A. Borg , A. Dilard, S. Vella, M. Darmanin, C. Mifsud
Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina, K. Galea, D. Revol, S. Farrugia, M. Bonett, H. Acreman, M. Riolo, J. Grima , P. Arguello , M. Cutajar, S. Davies, C. Curmi
Referees: N. Azzopardi, F. Tzimopoulos
Hibernians 57 Caffe Moak Luxol 63
(after overtime)
(28-19, 23-32) - (6-12)
Hibs: S. Abela 12, E. Cassar 13, A. Simmons 16, K. Calleja, L. Duncan 4, J. Abela 6, K. Caruana , R. Camilleri , H. al Tumi 4, M. Said 2
Luxol: S. Pace 12, B. Zammit 12, Ni. Vella,, I. Baena Medina 6, No. Vella 4, M. Caruana , K. Portelli , A. Borg 14, A. Dilard 13, S. Vella 2, M. Darmanin, C. Mifsud
Referees: B. Sly, A. Ampadogiannis
Starlites GIG 42 Depiro 27
(13-8, 29-19)
Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 7, K. Galea 6, S. Farrugia 2, M. Bonett 6, H. Acreman 2, M. Riolo 2, J. Grima 6, P. Arguello 6, M. Cutajar 2, S. Davies 3, C. Curmi
Depiro: N. Agius, G. Mifsud, L. Vella, D. Agius, C. Camilleri, D. Said Hollier, No. Agius, A. Gray , E. Cutajar, C. Ciantar , N. Hili
Referees: M. Hraisha, A. Ampadogiannis
Caffe Moak Luxol 40 Starlites GIG 45
(16-26, 24-19)
Luxol: S. Pace 5, B. Zammit 3, I. Baena Medina 2, No. Vella, M. Pollacco, K. Portelli 2, A. Borg 13, A. Dilard 13, S. Vella 2, M. Darmanin, C. Mifsud
Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 1, K. Galea 13, S. Farrugia 4, M. Bonett 6, H. Acreman , M. Riolo 4, J. Grima 6, P. Arguello 9, M. Cutajar, S. Davies, C. Curmi 2
Referees: N. Azzopardi, F. Tzimopoulos
Standings - Women
Starlites GIG 3 3 0 6
Depiro 3 2 1 5
Luxol 3 1 2 4
Hibernians 3 0 3 3