Starlites GIG 66 Gzira Athleta 73
(17-23, 17-8, 20-21, 12-21)
The two sides were meeting for the second time this season. Previously they had met in the Super Cup final, which went Athleta's way, as did this encounter, which out the Maroons into the final, where Hibernians were awaiting them. It was ding dong all the way, with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions. Both sides relied on trusted players, with practically no changes, and the usual suspects finished with good tallies to their name. Starlites' best moments came in the second quarter, whilst Athleta left theirs to the last one, where it mattered, and they came up trumps.
Starlites were quickest off the starting blocks, as the first five all put in points for their side, for an 11-2 advantage. Athleta's coach, Sasa Dimitrijevic, had to call an early time out, giving his players a rollicking, which paid dividends. Athleta recovered, to post a solid 12-0 run, mostly from Matthew Gouder, who also sank a trio of treys. Starlites managed a couple of buckets, till the end of the session, but Athleta also made their points, to hold on to their lead. In the second period, Starlites swept forward. to make up a 9-2 start, with American, Konor Kulas, points, also with a triple. Their new lead was shortlived, as Athleta twice went ahead. Kulas kept on with his point grabbing, following on from his positive performance, in his side's last match. Again Athleta recovered from their latest deficit, as Luca Stefanovic nailed a triple, but free throws enabled Starlites to sneak another advantage, till the end of the session, and lead, 34-31, halfway through the game.
After the break, the match became more balanced, with both sides reacting to each other's points throughout. Kulas and Robert Bonnici netted treys for Starlites, as they held on to their advantage. Gouder managed two more triples, and American, Connel Crossland, came up with more points, but Starlites still kept their noses in front, to finish the session 54-52 ahead. The last quarter had Athleta making a decisive stride forward, with a 7-0 run, as Stefanovic sank his second trey. Starlites answered back, with an 8-2 run, mostly from Kulas, for their last lead. Athleta overturned the score, and Serbian, Milos Novakovic extended their lead slightly, with his triple. Starlites crept marginally nearer, but the game's last two hoops came from Athleta players, as they made sure of the result, and booked their place in the final, next Sunday.
Starlites: A. Felice Pace 12, M. Azzopardi, R. Bonnici 8, I. Felice Pace. Fabri, M. Falzon, M. Scerri, R. Carabott 4, I. Kumric 7, K. Kulac 32, J. Marseille 3
Athleta: C. Crossland 21, S. Pace 2, B. Zammit, N. Buhagiar, L. Stefanovic 8, S. Galea , N. Xuereb 7, M. Gouder 24, M. Novakovic 7, I. Thiesen 4, E. Abela , R. Abela
Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, K. Dworniczak, I. Simic