The Kinnie playoffs started off with a bang, as Luxol claimed the first victory, only their second in nine meetings with Pembroke, but which started them off in the semis. Pembroke were at a distance for most of the match, and never could get quite near enough to turn the tide of the game.
There was the return of Julian Naudi for Pembroke, for the first time this season, whilst Luxol had to make do without Robert Azzopardi again. After the opening skirmishes Pembroke took the game in hand, and a 12-2 run, enhanced with a couple of treys by Etienne Bezzina, pushed them ahead. Luxol replied with three hoops in a row, to crawl back and it was a close game after the first session.
In the second session Luxol clicked beautifully, to take the initiative, and an opening 16-2 run gave them a 23-18 advantage. Michael Naudi replied for Pembroke, but Luxol’s pressing still bore fruit, and a further 13-2 break, till the end of the quarter, put the Violets on a good 36-24 lead midway through the match.
After the break Pembroke went all out to make up the leeway, but they were hit by three successive Luxol treys, for a 45-29 maximum lead. Pembroke stuck to their task, and Adrian Micallef worked well under the boards. Their work was hampered by another Steve Schembri trey. as Luxol strove to keep their original lead. Treys at both ends brought a 59-50 score for the Violets, after three sessions.
The last quarter was played at full throttle. Luxol always had a reply to Pembroke’s hoops, keeping their lead till midway through the session, with a 67-58 score. Pembroke were thwarted, failing to find the basket till late in the game, after suffering further points. Their late burst was not enough, and Luxol could see out the last moments with a clear mind.
Pembroke: 15 Michael Naudi, 15 Adrian Micallef
Luxol: 30 Steve Schembri, 10 15 Chris Sammut. 14 Dirk Schembri. 13 Marco Mercieca
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Carlo Farrugia
In the other semi final Hamrun L. Go Mobile had a bonus win over Siggiewi Smina, after topping the group games.
The second matches in the series are on Sunday.
Men’s 1 Div. playoffs
Qormi Kia 64
Mellieha SVS 55
(19-10)(9-10)(16-14)(20-21)
Qormi drew first blood in the opening playoff encounter, but they were given a hard time by Mellieha, who had earlier managed to take two games off Qormi, in their run in to the playoffs.
Once more Qormi were without Simon Cauchi. They suffered Mellieha’s insistence at first, and then settled down to share the agme. With the two teams locked together Qormi had the better ending to the session, with an 8-0 run, including a Nello Xuereb trey, for the first reasonable lead. Qormi added on to their lead at the start of the second quarter, but Mellieha got in their stride, and an 8-1 run made it a more competitive match. Qormi snapped Melieha’s break, and by the interval they had improved on their lead again, for a 28-20 half time score.
After the interval the game started to turn Qormi’s way. At first Mellieha kept pace, and shared the hoops, but then Qormi embarked on an 8-0 run, with an Adrian Baldacchino trey. Mellieha recovered at the end of the session, with successive baskets, and after three sessions it was Qormi, at 44-34. In the last quarter Qormi had the measure of their opponents, and after two hoops, they could control the game, and their comfortable lead. Mellieha came back, with Robert Loporto’s treys, and an 8-0 run brought them within the distance. Qormi stopped the break, and held on to take the first game.
Qormi: 17 Antoine Grech. 10 Keith Scicluna, 10 Nello Xuereb
Mellieha: 17 Robert Loporto
Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Stephen Micallef
In the other semi final SN Suns Bell Med took a bonus win over Mosta, aftergaining the top place in the standings, after the group games. The second games will be played today.