Hamrun L Go Mobile 54

BUPA Luxol 52

(12-12) (9-10) (18-18) (15-12)

It was expected to be a close game, and it went right down to the final buzzer. Hamrun just made it in a game full of errors on both sides. Play swung from one side to the other and it could have been anybody’s game.

Both sides were at full strength. Luxol took a 10-6 lead but Hamrun’s reply was effective enough and after the first session it was a 12-12 tie.

In the second session, after Luxol had temporarily gone in the lead, Hamrun struck back with a 9-0 run. Luxol stopped the slide but the two sides were guilty of slipshod play for some time. Luxol persisted enough to grab the lead with an 8-0 run. They were ahead 21-20 in a low-score game at the interval.

Luxol held their slim lead after the interval, but their was Albert Spiteri grabbing the points for Hamrun from the zone.The game continued to fluctuate as Luxol crawled back with points by Steve Schembri and Silvio Cassar. They kept a minimal lead 40-39 after three sessions.

In the last quarter, Luxol’s lead was twice tied level by liberty but Schembri’s points were keeping the Violets in front. But when Hamrun dug in, they overcame their opponents. Free shots decided the issue at the end as Luxol sought desperately to save the game. Liberty held out till the end to gain first blood.

Hamrun: S. Pace 10, . Borg 4, D. Camilleri, A. Spiteri 12, . Borg 14, A. Portelli, O. Said 14, . Jetson, N. Falzon, I. Terribile, S. Gouder.

Luxol: A. Cremona, M. Mercieca 6, R. Azzopardi 3, M. Micallef, D. Schembri, B. Micallef Trigona, M. Bonnici, R. Dalli, A. Bianchi 2, E. Caruana Montaldo, S. Cassar 11, S. Schembri 30.

Referees: Carlo Farrugia, Jean Paul Sammut

Women

Depiro Still 75

Luxol Vodafone 55

(17-12) (24-12) (15-14) (19-17)

Depiro dispelled any doubts about their performances against Luxol, sweeping aside their opposition and advancing on their way to the final. They had a hard time at first as Luxol profited from Depiro’s stray shooting, to take a lead, and then draw level after they had fallen behind. Depiro recovered well and a good ending to the session and a good opening of the second quarter gave them a useful lead. By the interval Depiro had built up a 41-24 lead.

After the break, Luxol’s trey did not serve much as Depiro put in a 12-2 run to consolidate their position. Luxol recovered to share the spoils but Depiro’s lead was still intact for the fourth and final quarter, at 56-38.

Depiro still made sure as they continued to extend their lead before being hit by a couple of Luxol treys. Both scorelines continued improving but the final outcome had long been known.

Top Scorers: D. Galea 23, J. Grima 21, . Camilleri 13 (Depiro), A Sciortino 15 (Luxol)

Referees: Sephen Micallef, Gordon Barbara

Floriana 61

SN Suns 41

(20-10) (13-10) (9-9) (19-12)

In the other play-off, that of the Men’s Division 1, Floriana beat SN Suns, making the first step towards the Final.

Although the Suns made life difficult for the Greens, Floriana held out.They lead 33-20 by the interval and although scoring dropped down after the break, a good 15-1 run put Floriana in a convincing position to beat their rivals for the third time this season.