Balkan Fusion     51     Gzira Athleta     110

Agg. 124-216          

(2-31, 21-21, 15-32, 13-26)

The match had no story, as Athleta walked all over their opponents in the opening session, and then could put in their bench players. Balkan did rally a little, but they were far back, and their six-man side will have difficulties in later matches.

The first session had Athleta pumping in the points, limiting Balkan to a single hoop, with American, Vincent Pace, netting a trio of treys, along with another couple, from another American, Kwame Thompson. The second session was shared, points wise, with Athleta making points at the start and at the end, and Balkan grabbing theirs in between. Nikola Vasovic netted a lone Balkan trey. At the interval Athleta led 52-23.

After the break Athleta pushed forward once more, with Balkan replying in fits and starts. Pace added on two more triples, with another, by Matthew Gouder. Balkan's trey came late in the session, from Vasovic, for an 84-38 score. The century, in the last quarter, was a foregone conclusion, put in by Nathan Xuereb, with the same Xuereb and Luca Stefanovic netting treys. Vasovic managed a third Balkan triple, just before the end.

Balkan: N. Bozovic 4, N. Vasovic 21, P. Walk 18, A. Schembri 2, N. Kovacevic 4, J. Caruana 2

Athleta: M. Gauci Montaldo, L. Stefanovic 16, A. Perunicic 9, N. Xuereb 19, M. Gouder 22, K. Thompson 14, V. Pace 15, I. Mitrovic 4, C. Shanks 8

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

 

 

Starlites in decisive mood, to oust out holders

Hibernians     75     Starlites GIG     87        

Agg. 155-165

(15-24, 21-19, 19-17, 20-27)

Starlites started the match a couple of points behind, but they didn't take time to forge ahead, and let their opponents do the   managed to get close, on aggregate, on some occasions, Starlites always had a grip on the match, and ended up on a comfortable advantage. Hibs had Serbian, Marco Matijevic, missing, injured, for this second encounter.

Early treys started the game, with Robert Bonnici and American, Cameron Ward, the man of the match, for Starlites, and Spaniard, Alvaro Lizaur, and Canadian, Cgad Cuschieri patus, who never stopped trying, for the champions. Starlites established a lead, which they held on to. In the second session the Paolites tried hard, but only managed to creep forward a couple of points, as Starlites kept check on their opponents. Cuschieri Patus sank two more treys, and Alec Felice Pace, outstanding from the local players, also netted twice, with another from Ward. At the interval Starlites were on a 43-36 advantage.

After the break it was Hibs again only gaining ground another brace of points, which had them in contention. This time it was Lizaur netting two triples, for the Paolites, and Bonnici, Nick Formosa and Ward with Starlites treys, as their side held a small 60-55 lead. The last quarter had Starlites opening their advantage, with the champions unable to get nearer again Ward and Felice Pace again netted a brace of treys each, and Cuschieri Patus replied for Hibs, with another couple. Hibs efforts proved fruitless, and Starlites progressed to the semis.

Hibs: R. Vella 3, P. Attard, K. Sultana, L. Farrugia 2, M. Formosa, I. Bonett, L.Tardito 17,  A. Axiaq 6,  A. Lizaur 13, I. Demcesen 4, C. Cuschieri Patus 30   

Starlites: O. Psaila , N. Formosa 7, R. Bonnici 6, C. Ward 31, M. Falzon, A. Felice Pace 21, R. Carabott, M. Scerri , A. Sears 4, J. Tagarelli 8, J. Stotts 10   

Referees: B. Vassallo, T. mantere, I. Simic

 

 

Depiro overturn first game deficit

Depiro     71     Bupa Luxol     62             82-89

Agg. 153-151

(15-14, 16-14, 17-17, 23-17)

The game went right down to the wire. Depiro had to overcome a seven-point deficit, from the first match. The game alternated, with leads at both ends, with Depiro going ahead, on aggregate, only to see Luxol return to their original advantage. The last stages were exciting, as Luxol were holding out, only for Depiro to close down the match with a three hoop spread. The violets had occasions to overturn the aggregate score, but they failed their last shots, and paid the price of elimination. Depiro became the last side to make their way into the semis.

Lead changes in the opening session had Depiro just ahead, but not on aggregate. As Serbian, Vukasin Jandric and Swede, William Ahlberg, sank treys for Luxol, and Omar Said for Depiro. In teh next period Depiro eked out a further two-point advantage, which ha dthem nearer to their goal, but luxol were still in front, on two games. Jandric made another Luxol trey, as his side were trailing 28-31, at the interval.

After the break the points were shared byt teh two sides, as the Violets were still hanging on to their small aggregate advantage. Depiro overtook their adversaries, only to be pulled back, by Luxol, as Ahlberg and Jandric made more triples, with American, Keshaun Hamilton, sinking his for Depiro, as he and the other American, Trent Steen, grabbed the majority of the points. The Violets were still 45-48 behind, but in front on two games. The last session had Luxol grabbing a lead, with a 7-2 run. Depiro were again in front, after a Nicholas Grech triple. Luxol were staying close to their opponents, and another Jandric triple kept them in stride, but a final spurt from Depiro brought about a six point run, which was enough to give them a semi-final place, as Luxol missed their last two attempts at basket.

Depiro: T. Steen 33, K. Hamilton 15, J. Attard, A. Aquilina 4, N. Grech 5, O. Said 7, M. Mallia, E. Brigffa, M. Borg, J. Nygaard 2, A. Chomo 5, A. Attard

Luxol: CJ Cordina, V. Jandric 28, P. Englebert, L. Caruana Montaldo, JP Schembri, K. Dimech 7, W. Ahlberg 10, F. Sekulic 13, S. Cappello 4

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

 

The semi-final draws were made after the last match, on Sunday.

The first games, next Thursday, are:

     12.45pm   Gzira Athleta   v   Floriana MCP Car Parks

       4.15pm   Depiro   v   Starlites GIG

The return matches will be played next Sunday, at the same times.