Depiro     76     Hibernians     85

(16-20, 22-18, 17-23, 21-24)

Hibs kept in touch with the higher regions of the standings, by beating off a stiff Depiro challenge, for their seventh league success. They also left Depiro languishing in the nether regions, with only two league wins. Depiro were in contention for most of the match, but fell away in the last quarter, as Hibs broke through, to claim their victory.

Depiro relied on their Americans, in the opening session. Trent Steen and Keshaun Hamilton made the hoops, and Jack Nygaard sank his triple. Hibs began with their Italian, Luca Tardito, points, their Serbian, Ivan Demcesen, made hoops, and the Spaniard, Alvaro Lizaur, netted a brace of treys, as his side ended the period in front. The second session had Roderick Vella nailing two quick triples, for the champions, but later on there were Nygaard and Omar Said sinking theirs, at the other end. Nygaard and the Czech, Adam Chomo, produced a 10-0 run, shooting Depiro in front, but the Paolites recovered, regaining their advantage, with Depiro's Nicholas Grech making a trey, to tie the score, at 38-38, at the interval.

After the break the game was alternating for some time, with Canadian, Chad Cuschieri Patus making his triple. He followed up with three more, and Lizaur also put in his, and Depiro began to fall behind, with the score at 55-61. The last session had Demcesen dominant in the Depiro paint, taking the champions to a better advantage. Steen was making free throws for Depiro, and Chomo grabbed a second triple. When Depiro tried to stop the clock the Hibs players made their free shots, and victory was assured for the Paolites.

Depiro: T. Steen 24, K. Hamilton 9, J. Attard, D. Farrugia 5, M. Mallia , N. Grech 3, O. Said 8, M. Mallia 4, M. Borg, J. Nygaard 14, A. Chomo 9, A. Attard

Hibs: R. Vella 10, P. Attard, K. Sultana, L. Farrugia, M. Formosa, I. Bonett, L. Tardito 1, A. Axiaq 2, M. Matijevic, A. Lizaur 12, I. Demcesen 22, C. Cuschieri Patus 23

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

 

Gzira Athleta     84     Bupa Luxol     72

(15-22, 23-13, 28-20, 18-17)

Both sides had recently met Depiro, with different results. Whereas Luxol had gained an important league victory, Athleta were dumped out of the K.O., after wasting a solid advantage. It was Athleta who recovered from their defeat, to register their sixth league victory, and keep a steady course for a Play off place. Luxol were in contention at first, but Athleta were stronger after the interval, to edge away, and secure their win. The only notable absentee, from both sides, from their last encounter, was Luxol's Dirk Schembri, after his excellent contribution, against Depiro.

The Violets began with the Serbian, Vukasin Jandric's, triple. Athleta tied the score, only for Luxol to come up with a 7-2 run, and a trey, from the Swede, William Ahlberg. Athleta stayed in touch, but Luxol still kept their noses in front, with Stefan Cappello netting a late bucket. The second session had Athleta drawing closer, only to be foiled by a couple of American, Jerrell Martin, hoops. Athleta were back, with a 10-2 run, and a triple, by American, Vincent Pace, as they twice tied the score. The lead then began changing hands, till the end of the session, with Athleta managing to go 38-35 in front, at the halfway stage of the match.

After the break Athleta began to draw away more, as Matthew Gouder went on court. Luxol pulled points back, as Ahlberg sank another trey. Athleta responded with a good 11-0 run, and a Gouder triple, along with American, Connell Crossland points. Athleta had enough of a lead, to control matters, and Gouder snatched a last second trey, for a 66-55 advantage. The last quarter had Gouder repeating the dose of a triple, with the Violets creeping back, with an 11-2 run, from Jandric hoops and two more Ahlberg treys. Luxol were close, but Athleta put in a fine 11-0 run, ending with a Pace triple, to make sure of the result. Schembri found time to sink a brace of Luxol treys, but this defeat puts them two wins behind their opponents.

Athleta: N. Vasovic 4, C. Crossland 14, P. Shoults, L. Stefanovic, A. Perunicic, N. Xuereb 4, M. Gouder 24, V. Pace 16, I. Mitrovic, J. Guity 22

Luxol: CJ Cordina 2, V. Jandric 16, J. Martin 14, P. Engelbert, JP Schembri 9, K. Dimech 7, W. AhlbergF16. Sekulic 4, S. Cappello 4

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, K. Dworniczak, D, Torok

 

 

Floriana MCP Car Parks     72     Starlites GIG     96

(26-14, 19-31, 10-32, 17-19)

This was the fourth time that these two sides were meeting, and now Starlites have made it three wins out of four. Starlites are out in front, in the standings, although with a game more than Hibs, whilst the Greens are still embroiled in a tussle for a Play Off place, with Luxol. Floriana led after the first period, then were overtaken by Starlites, at the interval. Floriana were rattled by a good Starlite start, after the break, and couldn't go back into contention, having slipped way behind. Starlites could then administer the rest of the game as they saw fit.

A 9-2 start, with the American, Ian Thiesen, making a triple, saw Starlites reacting with a couple of hoops. More Floriana treys, by Thiesen, with two, and Estonian, Kevin Liivamagi, had the Greens out in front. Starlites tried to reply, but another Thiesen trey had Floriana enjoying a good advantage. Floriana were still to the good, in the next session, until American, Cameron Ward, began piling up the points. Shawn pace and Liivamagi did sink in two more Floriana triples, but Starlites were more into the match. they had Alec Felice Pace and Nicvk Formosa with treys, and then shot in front, only for Pace to net another Floriana trey, but Ward brought both teams level on points by the interval, on a 45-45 score.

After the break there was a different aspect to the match, as Starlites came storming out, with a heavy 14-0 run, as American, Jordan stotts shot in a trey and Felice Pace added on another brace for himself. Floriana found it hard going, and Stotts and another American, William Darley, put them in more misery, with two triples more, as starlites established a solid 77-55 advantage. The last period was in Starlites' hands, and they could even introduce their young bench players. Ward still found time to shoot in another trio of triples, whilst Thiesen kept up his formidable tally of points for the Greens, but his side were always trailing. Thiesen slotted in his fifth trtey, but Starlites had been home and dry long before then.

Floriana: S. Pace 6, D. Bugeja 5, D. Camilleri, S. Borg , K. Caruana 3, K. Liivamagi 11, I. Arias, Ian Thiesen 41, K. Xuereb , G. Hulsen 6, D. Agius

Starlites: A. Felice Pace 15, N. Formosa 9, R. Bonnici 5,  I. Felice Pace 2, C. Ward 23, M. Falzon, M. Scerri , R. Carabott 4, W. Darley 3, A. Sears 20, J. Stotts 15   

Referees: B. Vassallo, T. Mantere, C. Xuereb