Gzira Athleta     83     Floriana MCP Car Parks     76

(15-23, 24-17, 22-20, 22-16)

Both sides had lost to Luxol, in the group, and this game served to see who would progress to the semis, along with the same Luxol. It was a close fought encounter, with the lead changing hands quite a few times, until Athleta broke through right at the end, getting the necessary hoops to make the game safe. It was a bitter blow to the Greens, who matched their opponents throughout. Athleta had bench players, Francesco Mifsud Bonnici and Stefan Vincic, missing, but there was the return of the American, Kwame Thompson, who had played with the second string two seasons past. He finished up as the game's top scorer, but had the misfortune of a leg injury, which took him out of the match. Clayton Calleja returned for Floriana.

Floriana led twice, at the start, with Matthew Gouder, emerging as a polished player, netting an Athleta trey. The Greens struck a good patch, making up a 13-2 run, with the Estonian, Kevin Liivamagi, grabbing a triple. Athleta tried to get closer, but Floriana had the Belgian, Gael Hulsen, sinking a trey, and further points had them on a useful advantage. In the second period Athleta netted four quick hoops. Floriana then did the same afterwards. Athleta's retaliation had them on a solid 12-3 run, as Serbian, Alex Perunicic, netted a triple, and Thompson sank hoops, with Liivamagi getting his second Floriana triple. Athleta were leading until a late burst had Floriana slipping past, for a slim 40-39 advantage.

After the break David Bugeja kept the Greens ahead, until Perunicic gave Athleta another lead. Both sides then went in front, until Hulsen sank another Floriana trey, and Thompson did likewise, for AthletaAthleta held the advantage, with more Thompson points, and a Nathan Xuereb triple. Kieron Caruana grabbed a Floriana trey, and his side were just 60-61 behind. In the last quarter Athleta increased their lead, but the Greens were back, as David Agius put in his solitary points, with a trey. It was then Gouder getting the points for Athleta, also with a triple. The lead went on changing hands, with Kurt Xuereb also making a Floriana treyPeruncic's brace of hoops gave Athleta an advantage, and although Floriana were back to within a point, it was Athleta making the decisive three hoops at the end, to seal their victory, and a place in the semis.

Athleta: M. Gauci Montaldo, P. Shoults 7, L. Stefanovic 2, A. Perunicic 19, N. Xuereb 9, M. Gouder 21, I. Mitrovic  

Floriana: S. Pace, D. Bugeja 18, T. Grech 2, S. Borg, K. Caruana 3, K. Liivamagi 20, C. Calleja, K. Xuereb 7, G. Hulsen 23, D. Agius 3

Referees: B. Vassallo, T. Mantere, D. Torok