Depiro     98     Bupa Luxol     95

(22-20, 25-25, 28-32, 23-18)

It was the fifth meeting between these two sides, this season, with the Violets winning on three occasions, the Independence Cup, a Louis Borg Cup match and in the league. Depiro's victory came in the return Louis Borg encounter, as they advanced into the semis. Depiro had their Czech player, Adam Chomo, missing, and Luxol's Swedish player, William Ahlberg, was just a spectator on the bench. It was a classic encounter, with both sides vying hard, to advance to the semis. It was Depiro doing that, in a match which swung from end to end., with both sides managing to stay close to each other.

It was Depiro off to a good start, going 9-2 ahead. Luxol had their Montenegro import, Filip Sekulic, and American, Jerrell Martin, with triples, as they drew nearer. Americans, Trent Steen and Jack Nygaard, opened up Depiro's advantage once more, but it was Filipov and Martin once more, with their treys, for the Violets to come to within a hoop at the end of the session. In the next period Steen kept on with his hoops, along with Nygarrd, who also put in a triple. There was also Omar Said's contribution, with three more hoops. Luxol's triples were still being made, as Jandric, Martin, twice, and JP Schembri, all sank theirs. Luxol were twice ahead, but at the interval Depiro held a slight basket advantage, at 47-45. Right at the end Nygaard's trey went in, but came back out, off the net, and was not awarded.

After the break Depiro held on to their lead, with more Steen points, and Andrew Aquilina sank a trey, but Jandric also netted twice, at the other end, with Keith Dimech putting in two hoops, as Luxol swept in front. Up came Said, for Depiro, sinking three treys in a row, but in between there was Martin, for the Violets, with two more triples of his own. At the session's end it was Luxol a hoop ahead, at 77-75. Depiro began with a 7-0 run, and a Nygaard trey, but a Luxol reaction had them in front again,Depiro kept up their pressing, with Hamilton again getting them ahead. Said's next trey had Depiro in a better advantage, but Martin and Dimech made triples, to get Luxol just behind. Depiro held out, denying their opponents their last possession, to claim a third place in the semis.

Depiro: Steen 26, K. Hamilton 21, J. Attard, D. Farrugia, A. Aquilina 5, N. Grech, O. Said 20, M. Mallia 2, M. Borg, J. Nygaard 24, A. Attard

Luxol: CJ Cordina , V. Jandric 21, L. Caruana Montaldo, J. Martin 31, P. Engelbert, JP Schembri 3, K. Dimech 9, F. Sekulic 21, S, Cappello 10

Referees: B. Vassallo, I. Simic, D. Torok

 

Floriana MCP Car Parks     85     Starlites GIG     108

(21-27, 18-31, 21-20, 25-30)

Starlites beat their adversaries for the second time this season, in three matches. The Greens had emerged victorious in the Independence Cup, but Starlites had won in the league, before. Floriana were dealt a double blow, with two of their foreign imports being absent, for this crucial match. Englishman, Dean Wanliss, was back home, for personal reasons, and Belgian, Gael Hulsen, cried off, with a slight muscle tear, which should see him back, next Thursday, in a deferred encounter, against the champions, Hibernians. Starlites were always in front, with Floriana trying hard to keep up the pace of the match. A steady half time advantage helped Starlites to control the rest of the game, and take their place in the semis.

An 8-0 start, with American, William Darley, and Nick Formosa treys, set the tone of the game, with Floriana reacting well, at first, to draw quite near. Despite Alec felice Pace's triple, for Starlites, the Greens had Kurt Xuereb and Estonian, Kevin Liivamagi, also netting treys. A three-hoop spread opened up Starlites' lead a little further. In the second period Starlites were still banking on triples, from a brace by Ryan carabott and two more, from Darley. Floriana were not shy to make theirs, as Xuereb, Liivamagi and American, Ian Thiesen, sank theirs. Starlites were helped with a mid- session 11-0 run, to steer to safer waters, and at the break they were on a 58-39 advantage.

After the break Starlites were edging yet further in front, with a 12-4 start, and darley and Felice Pace triples. The Greens came more into their own, as the session progressed, to make it a more balanced one. Spaniard, Ignacio Arias, with a couple of treys, and a late Xuereb one, prevented their opponenets from increasing the lead, but Starlites were still good for a heavy 78-60 lead.  The last quarter p-roduced more points at either end. American, Cameron Ward, sank a Starlites trey, and Robert Bonnici sank a barce, for his side to reach the century. The Greens made a last effort, netting late points, with treys by Keiron Caruana and Thiesen, but Starlites were not bothered at that time, being well in front, and sure of their semi-final place.

Floriana: S. Pace 2, D. Bugeja 14, I. Arias 6, S. Borg , K. Caruana 7, K. Liivamagi 14, Ian Thiessen 29, K. Xuereb 13,  D. Agius

Starlites: O. Psaila , N. Formosa9 , R. Bonnici 10, I. Felice Pace 2,  C. Ward 20, M. Falzon, A. Felice Pace 17, R. Carabott 8, M. Scerri, A. Sears 7, W. Darley 24, J. Stotts 11    

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