Gzira Athleta     97     Floriana Car Parks    68

(22-16, 20-11, 22-22, 33-19)

Athleta took a hefty advantage with them, into the second match, next Sunday, disposing of Floriana, putting one foot, already, into the final. Floriana failed to maintain the pace of the game, and fell behind, towards the end of the second session. they didn't make any progress, after the break, and then fell apart in the last quarter, allowing their adversaries to open up an intimidating advantage. The Greens had beaten Athleta in their first league encounter but were no match in this game.

Athelta established the opening lead, and then Floriana pulled points back, but Athleta netted a couple hoops., as American, Kwame Thompson, made his hoops. Floriana managed to creep back, as Shawn pace sank a trey, but Athleta stayed ahead, as American, Vincent pace, and Nathan Xuereb put in quick triples. For DFloriana it was American, Ian Thiesen, with his points, to pull his side back, but Xuereb sank a second trey, for Athleta. In the second period more Pace points had Athleta in a better position. Flroiana tried to get back in the match, but Athleta countered well, as Pace and Peter Shoults shared four treys between them. The session's last two hoops were for the Greens, but they were still 27-42 behind, at the interval.

After the break Floriana were playing better, but they only managed to share the points. Athleta started off, to increase their advantage, and a 14-3 run, with another pace trey, had them on song. The Greens retaliated, and made up a 10-0 run, with a brace of Kurt Xuereb treys. The period's last points were shared, with Athleta still enjoying their halftime lead, at 64-49. The last session saw the Greens falling further behind, as Athleta pushed them back and sped away. It was Thiesen here, making up Floriana's points, to counter Belgian, Gael Hulsen's previous points, for Floriana. Athleta were happy with their heavy advantage, as Pace found space to net his fifth triple. It looks very bleak for the Greens, next Sunday.

Athleta: M. Gauci Montaldo, P. Shoults 8, L. Stefanovic, A. Perunicic, N. Xuereb 8, M. Gouder 13, K. Thompson 26, V. Pace 30, I. Mitrovic, C. Shanks 12  

Floriana: S. Pace 3, D. Bugeja 7, I. Arias 3, S. Borg, K. Caruana, K. Liivamagi, C. Calleja, Ian Thiessen 26, K. Xuereb 12, G. Hulsen 18

Referees: B. Vassallo, Z. Dobrosavljevic, D. Torok

 

Depiro     92     Starlites GIG     81

(21-23, 16-11, 26-22, 29-25)

Starlites were victors twice, over Depiro, in previuos encounters, but this one was a stumbling block for them, although their deficit can be remedied on Sunday, if Depiro do not have other plans. Depiro had already gone past, at Luxol's expense, and they gave fair warning of their intentions, with a solid display, led admirably by their American duo, Trent Steen and Keshaun Hamilton, the latter with some powerful play. Starlites tried hard, and spent the last session chasing after their opponents, who were adamant in noit losing out, even if they may rue their opponents' late triple, when the two sides cross swords again, next Sunday.

Depiro began well enough, with a 7-0 start, and American, Jack Nygaard points, also a trey. Starlites answered back, but they were still behind, as Omar said sank his Depiro triple burst had Starlites forging in front, when American, Jordan Stotts, made a trey, with Czech, Adam Chomo, shaving points off Depiro's deficit. The second period had Depiro drawing level, but Starlites regained their advantage, and Robert Bonnici put in a trey. Hamilton came forward, with his points, and a triple, but Starlites opened their advantage once more, with a three-hoop spread. The remainder of the session had Depiro in command, making up a late 10-0 run, to go past their adversaries, for a 37-34 halftime advantage.

After the break Depiro's lead was stretched, as Andrew Aquilina fired two quick triples. Stralites' reaction brought them a 12-2 run, and a lead. Steen and Hamilton had Depiro close, with the latter netting his second triple. Then it was Nicholas Grech's trey that gave Depiro a lead, starting off a good 13-2 run, as his side pushed forward, for a 63-56 advantage. In the last session Starlites were staying close, but not ahead, as Steen continued to trouble their defence. There was always that two hoop advantage facing Starlites, even with Americans, Cameron Ward and Joe Tagarelli points, and this got worse, as Depiro made up a further 10-0 run, to leave their opponents behind. Starlites next hoops had Aquilina in reply, with his third trey, with Starlites pulling points back, with a lateTagarelli triple, which could be their life saver.

Depiro: T. Steen 26, K. Hamilton 25, J. Attard, A. Aquilina 12, N. Grech 3, O. Said 6, M. Borg, M.Mallia , E. Briffa , M. Borg , J. Nygaard 7, A. Chomo 13, A. Attard

Starlites: O. Psaila, N. Formosa 8, R. Bonnici 5, C. Ward 20, M. Falzon, A. Felice Pace 4, R. Carabott, M. Scerri, A. Sears 8, J. Tagarelli 17, J. Stotts 19  

Referees: B. Vassallo, K. Dworniczak, M. Hraisha