Depiro     83     Balkan Fusion     70

 (21-15, 21-13, 27-25, 14-17)

Depiro had claimed Hibernians' scalp, the week before, and they followed up with their second league win, at the expense of Balkan, who, however, did not take it lying down, but produced a fighting performance, even if they had a reduced outfit, of just seven players, and were foul hit towards the end of the encounter. Depiro thought that it would be a piece of cake, but Balkan were back, after the interval, to hike up the points, and left a very good impression. Balkan had to do without Nikola Andrejevic and Bogdan Mrhojevic, and there were few options for coach, Vladimir Tomovic, especially after Balkan lost their giant centre, Dalibor Mici, on two major fouls, and Patrick Walk was out, on fouls, soon after the start of the last session.

It was Balkan with the opening lead, and a 12-4 run, as Nikola Bozovic and Nikola Vasovic put in treys. Depiro recovered, and pushed hard, till the end of the period, making up a heavy 17-3 run, and American, Jack Nygaard, making a triple. Vasovic also grabbed a second trey for Balkan. In the second session Micic was out, early on, with Nygaard putting in points, in a personal 7-0 run. Balkan recovered, to cut down on their deficit, as Bozovic made another trey, Then it was Depiro with triples, by Nygaard and Omar Said, as they extended their advantage, to a 42-28 interval score.

After the break the points were more plentiful, at either end. Bozovic sank a third triple, but Nygaard was on hand, with his brace of treys, and the pther American, Trent Steen, came more into the picture, with his hoops. Bozovic was still active for Balkan, and made his fourth trey, but it was Depiro ahead, at 69-56. The last quarter had Balkan more adventurous, even if Walk was Lost, but Vasovic was relentless, with his points. Nicholas Grech grabbed a depiro triple, as his side kept their adversaries at arms' length, till the end of the match.

Depiro: T. Steen 21, K. Hamilton 15, J. Attard, D. Farrugia, A. Aquilina 2, N. Grech 4, O. Said 3, J. Nygaard 31, M. Brincat, M. Borg, A. Chomo 7, A. Attard

Balkan: N. Bozovic, N. Vasovic 27, P. Walk 8, A. Schembri 6, D. Micic 2, N. Kovacevic 2, J. Caruana

Referees: N. Azzopardi, D. Torok, C. Pollet

 

Floriana MCP Bar Parks     75     Bupa Luxol     70

(24-20, 16-17, 20-15, 15-18)

Both sides were coming from a defeat, and it was Floriana who recovered, for their second win, in three matches, whilst Luxol's early run of two victories were followed by their next two losses. Luxol had their ahnds full with Floriana's post, the American, Ian Thiesen, who dominated under the boards. Floriana never lost their lead, after the interval, although Luxol ran them close, but the Greens held out. Floriana had Clayton Calleja missing, whilst the Violets recovered CJ Cordina, and Keith Dimech returned after his injury, but Marco Mercieca and Dirk Schembri were missed.

Both sides were in front, at the start, and then came the treys, with Kurt Xuereb for Floriana and JP Schembri sinking two for Luxol. Soon after it was Spaniard, Ignacio Arias, with another Floriana trey. Their lead was lost, but they regained it late in the session, with a couple of hoops.  In the second period Luxol were again on level terms, on two occasions, then Swede, William ahlberg, put the Vioplets in front, with his triple. More Thiesen hoops had Floriana ahead, and they strayed there till the interval, on a 40-37 score.

After the break Luxol werer within a point on three separate occasions, with the Greens then making up a 10-0 run, which gave them breathing space. Serbian, Vukasin Jandric, finally made his trey, but his side were still trailing, at 52-60. The last session had Shawn Pace increasing Floriana's advantage, with his trey, but Luxol had Stefan Cappello, Jandric and Montenegran, Filip Sekulic, with their triples, and a closer score. Floriana were still holding out, even though Cordina sank another Luxol trey. The Greens made sure in the last seconds, when David Bugeja netted his brace of free throws.

Floriana: S. Pace 3, D. Bugeja 14, I. Arias 5, S. Borg, K. Caruana 2, K. Liivamagi 4, Ian Thiessen 30, K. Xuereb 3, G. Hulsen 14, D. Agius

Luxol:  CJ Cordina 7, V. Jandric 26, P. Englebert , L. Caruana Montaldo , JP SChembri 6, K. Dimech,W. Ahlberg 7, F. Sekulic 17, S. Cappello 7

Referees: T. Mantere, K. Dworniczak, M. Hraisha