Starlites GIG     78     Gzira Athleta    87

(27-18, 18-27, 15-17, 18-25)

Just a few days ago Athleta won their first seasonal honour, the Louis Borg Cup, at the expense of Starlites, and the two sides were scheduled to meet once more, this time in the league. Again Athleta had the better of Starlites, to avenge their first-round league defeat, and also to continue on their winning run, of four straight victories. Athleta had an uncertain start, with Starlites opening up a heavy advantage, but this counted for nothing till the interval, when both sides were level on points. It was still tight, at the start of the last quarter, but then Athleta surged forward, to run up a good lead, which they kept till the end of the encounter. Stralites still keep their top league position, but they could now be overtaken, in later matches. Athleta made a bold step to make their way into the Play Offs. Both sides had missing bench players, with Owen Psaila for Starlites, and Serbian, Alex Perunicic, for Athleta.

Starlites opened in style, as they rammed in an early 15-3 advantage, as Alec Felice Pace began with a trey, and he also finished up as the game's top scorer. Felice Pace and American, Andrew Sears also added more hoops, whilst Nathan Xuereb started Athleta off with his trey. Stralites increased their lead further with Felice Pace's second triple, but American, Vincent Pace, netted an Athleta triple, soon after. Starlites still held sway, as American, Jordan Stotts also nailed a triple, but Athleta replied well, till the end of the session, with a brace of Peter Shoults triples. The next period had Athleta coming forward, to wipe off their deficit. Matthew Goider netted a trey, and a 10-0 run, ending with another Pace trey, had boht sides level on points. Starlites regained their lead, as Felice Pace made a third trey, but Athleta were equal to their adversaries, as the lead changed hands. American, Cameron Ward, put in a Starlites triple, but the session finished all square, for a 45-45 interval score.

After the break it was Starlites regaining another advantage, again through Sears, but Xuereb sank a second Athleta trey, and later on another Pace triple put the game on a par. Stotts netted a further Starlites trey, with Athleta answering back, with a session ending 9-2 run, as Xueren made another triple, and his side were 62-60 in front. Starlites were ahead for the last time, in the last session, when Felice Pace and Stotts put in back to back triples. but Athleta went on song, with a heavy 13-3 run, even if Ward put in a Starlites trey. Athleta went further in front, adding on another 7-0 run, with a second Gouder trey, and Starlites were left short of time. They stuck to their task, but Athleta could keep control till the end of the match.

Starlites: A. Felice Pace 22, N. Formosa  6, R. Bonnici, I. Felice Pace, C. Ward 7, M. Falzon, M. Scerri, R. Carabott 2, W. Darley 3, A. Sears 18, J. Stotts 20   

Athleta: N. Vasovic 4, C. Crossland 18, P. Shoults 10, L. Stefanovic, N. Xuereb 9, M. Gouder 8, V. Pace 21, I. Mitrovic, J. Guity 17  

Referees: B. Vassallo, T. Mantere, D. Torok