Depiro     82     Bupa Luxol     95

(18-19, 19-24, 25-29, 20-23)

Luxol started their league campaign with a comfortable victory over Balkan Fusion, and carried on with another win, this time taking the scalp of Depiro, in a high scoring match which is becoming the norm, now that a number of foreigners are gracing our court. Depiro were mixing it well with their opponents after the interval. Luxol then began to ease away, but Depiro were always within reach, until midway through the last session, when the Violets made sure of the result. There were some high personal scores registered. Depiro had a couple of bench players missing, whilst Luxol were a reduced side, with Keith Dimech, Dirk Schembri and Marco Mercieca all absent.

Depiro had skipper, Andrew Aquilina, sinking an early trey, with JP Schembri doing likewise, at the other end. Depiro jumped in front, but it was Luxol just ahead, at the session's end, with Swede, William Ahlberg in fine form. The next period saw six lead changes, as fellow Americans, Trent Steen and Jack Nygaard, netted triples, for Depiro and Serbian, Vukasin Jandric and Schembri once more, replying for the Violets. Depiro twice went to within a point, but Ahlberg made a Luxol trey, to take his side to a 43-37 halftime advantage.

After the break the points continued to pour in, with Depiro breathing down Luxol's neck. The latter side then made space with their treys, as Ahlberg, twice, Schembri and Jandric all sank theirs. Nygaard pulled a triple back for Depiro, but more Jandric hoops had Luxol on a better 72-62 lead. In the last period it was Montenegrin, Filip Sekulic, to take Luxol further in front, despite Depiro's Americans. Steen and Keshaun Hamilton's attemptes to get back in contention. Ahlberg and Jandric sank further treys, as Luxol coasted home, with Hamilton netting a late triple, for Depiro's last points.

Depiro: J. Attard , D. Farrugia , A. Attard , A. Aquilina 6, N. Grech , O. Said 4, K. Hamilton 18, A. Chomo 11, J. Nygaard 10, T. Steen 33  

Luxol: CJ Cordina, V. Jandric 33, PL. Caruana Montaldo, JP Schembri 10, W. Ahlberg 34, F. Sekulic 10, S. Cappello 8  

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, I. Simic, D. Torok

 

Balkan Fusion     53     Hibernians     110

(6-24, 12-25, 14-35, 21-26)

The Paolites started da their league defence days after the other contenders. They began in fine fashion, with a century victory over Balkan, who could not keep pace with their adversaries. Hibs did not give their opponents any reprieve, even when their young bench players went on court, and their seasoned campaigners had a little rest, with new Serbian, Ivan Demcesen staying on court, with the locals. Balkan improved after the break, but the damage had already been done, and it was a case of hiking up a more respectable score, for them.

The champions were up and away from the start, running Balkan off their feet, and slipping away well in front, as Roderick Vella sank his opening triple. The second period followed the same path at first, with the Paolites extending their advantage seemingly at will, with Vella on a second trey. Balkan managed a late 8-2 run, as the imposing Dalibor Micic made his hoops. At the interval Hibs were already 49-18 ahead.

After the break Balkan began to answer back, but Hibs' triples began to fly in as Canadian, Chad Cuschieri Patus, Isaac Bonett and Spaniard, Alvaro Lizur, twice, put in theirs. Bonett followed with a second, soon after, and Hungarian, Patrick walk, provided Balkan with their only trey in the match. With a session to go it was 84-32 for the champions. The century was a foregone conclusion, with Balkan still playing an open game. Bonett utilised his time on court, with another brace of treys, and Paul Attard also netted his triple, as Hibs' young blood made good use of their playing time.

Balkan: N. Andrejevic 4, B. Mrkojevic 8, N. Bozovic 5, J. Caruana, P. Walk 8, A. Schembri 8, N. Vasovic 6, D. Micic 13, N. Kovacevic 2

Hibs: R. Vella 11, P. Attard 7, K. Sultana 2, L. Farrugia 3, M. Formosa , I. Bonett 14, A. Axiaq 6, M. Matijevic 10, A. Lizaur 14, I. Demcesen 26, C. Cuschieri Patus 17 

Referees: N. Azzopardi, K. Dworniczak, D. Torok