Gzira Athleta 106 Balkan Fusion 73
(23-13, 30-19, 26-15, 27-26)
Athleta took a commanding lead in the first match, making it an easier affair, in the return match, next Sunday. Balkan were in a worse position, than in their last match, when they could only muster a six-man side, but again, they gave a good account of themselves, even if the result was a foregone conclusion, given Athleta's advantage in numbers, over their adversaries. All ten men in the Athleta colours, managed to put their name on the score sheet, and Serbian, Ivan Mitrovic was given more playing time, for Athleta, having been left on the bench, in their last two matches, and he responded well, sinking half a dozen triples. Balkan had their duo, from their last encounter, Nikola Bozovic and Nikola Vasovic, their main point maker, once more.
Nathan Xuereb started Athleta off, with his hoops, as they forged in front, and stayed there for the rest of the encounter. Then it was the American, Carson Shanks, making more Athleta points, and Mitrovic netting his first trey. Balkan had Vasovic putting in his triple, as they trailed their opponents. The second sesssion had Athleta changing their personnel, and it was another American duo, Kwame Thompson and Vincent Pace, to hike up the points, with Luca Stefanovic also making a triple, whilst Bozovic led the charge for Balkan, also netting a late trey, before the interval. Athleta could extend their lead, and led comfortably, 53-32, halfway through the match.
After the break Balkan shared teh play for some time, until Athleta took over, once again, making up another heavy 22-2 run, mainly from Thompson, and with Mitrovic and another Serbian, Alex Perunicic, with their triples. Balkan managed late points, but they had fallen 47-79 behind. In the last session the game was more open, with Athleta chasing, and making their century. Mitrovic could distinguish himself, with four more triples, and Balkan had Bozovic and Vasovic with a brace of treys apiece.
Athleta should have no worries for the return encounter.
Athleta: M. Gauci Montaldo 6, P. Shoults 2, L. Stefanovic 9, A. Perunicic 9, N. Xuereb 12, M. Gouder 3, K. Thompson 20, V. Pace 13, I. Mitrovic 20, C. Shanks 12
Balkan: N. Bozovic 27, N. Vasovic 25, P. Walk 11, A. Schembri 4, N. Kovacevic 6, J. Caruana
Referees: B. Vassallo, D. Torok, C. Pollet
Starlites GIG 78 Hibernians 80
(15-21, 22-15, 26-15, 15-29)
The two sides both fancy themselves to win another honour, and the meeting between
them was an intriguing one. Truly nearly everything happened in the last eleven seconds, when the match was turned around three times, before the champions could take a mere two-point advantage into the second match, also next Sunday. Before that there were sparks, as strong protests, from the Hibs mentor, Mario Tabone, soon after the game restarted, after the interval, resulted in his ejection from the match. Hibs were in a dire position, facing a double figure deficit, but rallied admirably, to take the victory. Starlites, who play so confidently, with their four alternating Americans, seemed flustered, and couldn't regain their rhythm, allowing the rampant Paolites to squeeze past. There is still everything to play for, in the second match.
Hibs were first off the block, at 5-2 ahead. Starlites levelled, with American, Joe Tagarelli's trey, but Spaniard, Alvaro Lizaur, restored Hibs' advantage, with his triple. HIbs extended their lead, but were pulled back, as Starlites made up an 8-0 run, on ly to see the champions replying with Serbian, Ivan Demcesen, and Italian, Luca Tardito, points. In the second session Drew Sears stood out for Starlites, putting in his hoops. Hibs were still ahead, but their lead dwindled. Robert Bonnici sank a Starlites triple, and later on it was American, Jordan Stotts, to net his trey. Starlites were in front, but only just, at the interval, on a 37-36 score.
After the break Starlites lost their advantage, as Chad Cuschieri Patus made his triple, for the Paolites. Starlites' answer was a solid 12-2 run, from Stotts, and the other American, Cameron Ward. Hibs came back, with another Cuschieri Patus trey, but Starlites hit back well, till the end of the session, with a 10-2 run, taking them to a 63-51 advantage. Alec Felica Pace helped them on, with his trey, and things looked bleak for the champions, when they lost their coach, but this only spurred them on to better play, and an 11-0 run had them just behind their opponent, with a third Cuschieri Patus triple. Starlites opened up their lead again, but Hibs were adamant, and tardito pushed them in front. Ward produced a triple, for another Starlites lead. With eleven seconds to go Cuschieri Patus netted a couple of free throws, and Hibs were ahead. Over to the other end, and Ward made a three-point play, to turn the score in Starlites' favour. There were seconds left, but Tardito went through the opposing defence, to make a three-point play of his own, and give the champions victory, albeit a slender one, to take with them, next Sunday.
Starlites: O. Psaila, N. Formosa 5, R. Bonnici 3, C. Ward 20, M. Falzon, A. Felice Pace 3, R. Carabott, M. Scerri, A. Sears 20, J. Tagarelli 8, J. Stotts 19
Hibs: R. Vella, P. Attard, K. Sultana, L. Farrugia, M. Formosa, I. Bonett, L. Tardito 19, A. Axiaq 5, M. Matijevic 7, A. Lizaur 8, I. Demcesen 18, C. Cuschieri Patus 23
Referees: B. Vassallo, D. Torok, M. Hraisha
Bupa Luxol 89 Depiro 82
(17-12, 29-24, 22-27, 21-19)
Luxol will be taking some points advantage, in the second match, next Sunday. It was an entertaining game, in which Depiro largely were chasing their adversaries, whittling down their deficits, and drawing near, even in the last quarter, but the Violets managed to open up their advantage further, with late free throws. There were some good tallies for the foreigners, at both ends, with Luxol, even though they had a very short bench, always taking stock of the situation. Depiro tried hard, to make up for the two defeats suffered against Luxol, earlier on in the season, but they couldn't get it right till the end. However, the game is still open, when the winning margin was not so heavy.
It was Depiro with the opening points, from free throws, but the Violets gradually came into the picture, and a good 14-2 run took them to the end of the period, as Serbian, Vukasin Jandric, sank a brace of triples. The second session was more profitable, points wise. Luxol extended their advantage, as their Montenegro import, Filip Sekulic, put in his hoops, also with a trey. The Violets held a good lead for some time, some distance away from their opponents, , until Depiro's couple of americans, Trent Steen and Keshaun Hamilton, were more accurate, and cut down on their side's deficit, in a late burst, with local players, Andrew Aquilina and Nicholas Grech, providing triples. At the interval Luxol were still leading, on a 46-36 score.
After the break the triples were more plentiful, for both sides, who bagged four apiece. Luxol had Sekulic, Keith Dimech with a brace, and Jandric making theirs, whilst Depiro had Hamilton, with two, along with others from Aquilina and the other American, Jack Nygaard. Luxol were always in control, but late points, from Nygaard and the Czech, Adam Chomo, took depiro to a 63-68 deficit. Luxol had it all to do again, and their lead opened up once more, only for Nygaard and Omar Said triples to push depiro just a hoop away. Luxol managed a 10-2 run, in reply, by Sekulic and Stefan cappello, to breathe easier. Depiro had Steen to pull them back again, but the Violets made the game's last points, from the free throw line, to enhance their lead a little more, for the second match.
Luxol: V. Jandric 30, JP Schembri 2, K. Dimech 14, W. Ahlberg 5, M. Mercieca, F. Sekulic 27, S. Cappello 11
Depiro: T. Steen 24, K. Hamilton 20, J. Attard, A. Aquilina 6, N. Grech 3, O. Said 11, M. Borg, J. Nygaard 14, E. Briffa, A. Chomo 4, A. Attard
Referees: B. Vassallo, N. Azzopardi, C. Pollet