Gzira Athleta     81     Starlites GIG     93

(19-17, 17-22, 22-29, 23-25)

The result effectively meant that Starlites had back to back victories, whilst Athleta were suffering their second defeat in a row. Athleta were in the match for most of the time, also enjoying advantages, but in the last quarter a small run helped Starlites to pull away, enabling them to add on to their opening victory, over Depiro. Athleta suffered the same fate, as in their match against Floriana. Athleta had their long time stalwart, Michael Naudi, announcing his retirement from the beautiful game, after making his only appearance, this season, in the previous encounter, won by the Greens. They also recovered Peter Shoults and their third American import, Carson Shanks, who, however, had a premature ending to the match, committing his fifth foul, late in the third session. Starlites had just the one change, from the bench, with Mirco Azzopardi in lieu of Owen Psaila.

Athleta twice replied to Starlites' opening hoops, before the latter side made up an 8-0 run, for the first real advantage. American, Kwame Thompson put in a brace of Athleta hoops, with Alec Felice Pace, relishing his face to face play with foreigners, sinking a triple, for Starlites. Athleta responded well, to end the session on a good 11-2 run, with Shanks brace of hoops and another American, Vincent Pace with more hoops and also a trey, for a lead to his side. In the second period Starlites were twice on level terms, before Pace netted another triple. Starlites levelled twice more, but Pace's free shots pushed Athleta ahead once more. American, Jordan Stotts came up for Starlites, in a small 7-0 run, as his side strode in front. Athleta reacted once again, with an 8-2 run, and more Kwame points. Starlites went into the interval ahead, thanks to free shots, granted to them, after the Athleta vice coach, Peter Farrugia, was issued with marching orders. for dissent. Score at 39-36, for Starlites. as Joe Tagarelli came more into the scheme of things, to take his side to a better 68-58 lead.

After the break the lead changed hands three times, as Pace sank a third Athleta trey. Starlites took over, made up a 9-2 run, to jump in front. Pace again netted a triple, but Starlites held on to their advantage, as Joe Tagarelli came more into the scheme of things, to take his side to a better 68-58 lead. In the last quarter Starlites resisted their opponents for some time, until Athleta came creeping back, into contention, at 69-75. They were then jolted with a Starliets 9-2 run, as Felice Pace obtained his second triple. A difficult situation for Athleta took a turn to the worse, as Starlites pushed home their advantage with more Tagarelli points. It was all over, even if Athleta's late spurt had them ending the match on an 8-2 run, which still left them short.

Athleta: M. Gauci Montaldo, L. Stefanovic, A. Perunicic 7, N. Xuereb 6, M. Gouder 6, K. Thompson 22, V. Pace 32, I. Mitrovic, Carson Shanks 8 

Starlites: M. Azzopardi, N. Formosa 2, R. Bonnici 2, I. Felice Pace , C. Ward 8, M. Falzon, A. Felice Pace 17, R. Carabott , M. Scerri , A. Sears 10, J. Tagarelli 33, J. Stotts 21  

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, K. Dworniczak, M. Hraisha