Floriana MCP Car Parks     88     Gzira Athleta     78

(30-19, 20-27, 17-20, 21-12)

The match proved to be an intriguing one, with Floriana finally getting the spoils, over a frantic Athleta outfit, who were always close to their adversaries, drawing level and going ahead, at times. The Greens seemed to be tiring out, after the interval, but they picked themselves up, to keep Athleta in the chase, till the end. Floriana doubled their foreign intake, with the introduction of American, Ian Theisen, and Spaniard, Ignacio Arias. Athleta recalled Michael Naudi back to the side, and American, Vincent Pace became eligible, but were unfortunate to lose two players, in midweek training, Peter Shoults, and American, Carson Shanks, who had to delay his league debut.

Floriana were the pushing side at first, as Theisen made an early triple, but Athleta were reacting each time, through Pace and another American, Kwame Thompson. Belgian, Gael Hulsen, who played a remarkable match, put in a trey, for Floriana. Later on Theisen and Hulsen made other triples, as their side opened up a useful advantage. Athleta managed to slice off a bit of their deficit, by the end of the session. The second period had Floriana still in control, until Athleta's treys began pouring in. Nathan Xuereb grabbed a brace, with others, from Pace, Ivan Mitrovic and Serbian, Alex Perunicic. Athleta were close, but the Estonian, Kevin Liivamagi, trey, and more Hulsen points kept the Greens ahead, till the interval, on a high 50-46 score.

After the break Floriana were again striding in front, once more, as Kurt Xuereb netted a trey. Athleta managed an 8-1 run, and they were level. Later on, they went ahead, with a Matthew Gouder trey, for their only advantage in the game. Floriana struck back, and Liivamagi made a second triple, to put his side just ahead, at 67-66. In the last session Floriana were opening small leads, but Athleta went nearer each time, until a 7-0 run, with more Hulsen points, took the Greens into a double figure lead. Athleta tried to fight back, but time was against them, and Floriana could hold out till the end, to register their opening league victory.

Floriana: S. Pace 2, D. Bugeja 7, I. Arias, S. Borg, K. Caruana, K. Liivamagi 8, C. Calleja, Ian Thiessen 30, K. Xuereb 11, G. Hulsen 30, D. Agius

Athleta: M. Naudi 9, M. Gauci Montaldo, L. Stefanovic, A. Perunicic 7, N. Xuereb 14, M. Gouder7, K. Thompson 19, V. Pace 19, I. Mitrovic 3

Referees: T. Mantere, K. Dworniczak, D. Torok

 

Starlites GIG     84     Depiro     76

(24-17, 12-15, 22-22, 26-22)

A far cry from days gone by. There were seven Americans on call in this match, with a Czech player also thrown in, for good measure. Starlites were fresh from their Shield success, and followed up with this opening league victory, but they were made to fight hard, by a resilient Depiro outfit, who stayed uncomfortably close to their opponents. Depiro also were level on points twice during the match, but never hopped in front, except for their opening triple. Starlites paraded the same side which brought them the Shield, whilst Depiro were fortified with the return of their American duo, Keshaun Hamilton, seen during the Independence Cup matches, and Jack Nygaard, who played for the second string, last season.

Nygaard wass off at the start, with his trey, as Starlites reacted with a good 13-3 run, and a Joe Tagarelli triple. Starlites held on to their advantag, eas American, Trent Steen, and Czech, Adam Chomo, put in hoops for Depiro. American, Jordan Stotts sank a starlites trey, and so did Nygarrd, with his second trey. In the next period Starlites extended their lead, with an early patch, but Depiro were back, drawing nearer. A brace of Nygaard hoops had them just a point behind, but American, Cameron Ward, free thorws took Starlites to a 36-32 interval advantage.

After the break Starlites' early points were answered by a couple of depiro triples, from Andrew Aquilina ans Nygaard, and Depiro were on level terms. Starlites pushed forward once more, as Alec Felice Pace netted a triple, followed by another, by Ward, gor a better lead. Steen and Nygaard had Depiro just behind again, with Ward nailing a late trey, for a 58-54 Starlites advantage. In the last quarter an 8-2 run, with a second Felice Pace trey, had Starlites easing away, but Depiro stuck to their task, with Steen and Hamilton points taking them to a hoop in arrears. Ward's third triple started a Starlites push, which took them just out of reach, despite a late Nygaard triple, for Depiro, who nhad to concede defeat in the last seconds.

Starlites: O. Psaila, N. Formosa 7, R. Bonnici 2, I. Felice Pace, C. Ward 32, M. Falzon, A. Felice Pace 6, R. Carabott, M. Scerri, A. Sears 5, J. Tagarelli 22, J. Stotts 8  

Depiro: J. Attard, E. Briffa, D. Farrugia 1, A. Attard, A. Aquilina 3, N. Grech, O. Said, K. Hamilton 15, A. Chomo 10, J. Nygaard 19, M. Borg, T. Steen 28 

Referees: B. Vassallo, N. Azzopardi, I. Simic