Loyola recovered from their mauling by champions Hibernians, to beat Naxxar for third time this season, and practically ensure a passage into the semis. They took the game in hand midway through the second session and didn’t look back, despite Naxxar’s comeback late in the third quarter.

Naxxar enjoyed a lead at the start of the match, but Loyola overturned the score with a 7-2 run, in the latter stages of the session, to finish ahead.

Naxxar replied at the beginning of the second quarter, and the two teams were tied midway through, at 16-16. From then on it was all Loyola, as they made a 12-0 run till the interval, for a 28-16 score.

After the break, Naxxar managed to creep nearer, but Loyola then nullified their opponents, and a mid-session 15-4 score gave them a comfortable lead. They didn’t enjoy this lead long, as Naxxar produced a session ending 11-0 run. After three sessions it was a closer 45-39 score.

In the final quarter, Loyola managed to keep Naxxar at bay, despite the latter’s efforts to come to grips with a closer score. Loyola prevailed and won the match.

Loyola: 21 Christine Grima, 18 Carina Gauci

Naxxar: 19 Sandra Schembri Wismayer

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Jennifer Mangani

Luxol Vodafone 57

Kerygma 52

(19-12)(20-11)(6-14)(12-16)

Luxol recovered from their defeat by Depiro, to post their first Group A win, edging out Kerygma, who also have a win and a loss.

Luxol were in command, but had to suffer at the end, as Kerygma came quite close, but were hit by a trey at the end.

Luxol were a depleted side for this encounter, with four players missing.

They had a good opening, with an 8-2 run, but Kerygma had a suitable reply, with a 10-0 run, for a 12-8 lead. They didn’t make another point till the end of the session, as Luxol regained the lead.

In the second quarter Kerygma held their own for a while, and even managed a 7-0 run, with a Denise Hollier trey. The Violets took the game in hand again, and an 11-0 run till the halftime buzzer gave them a comfortable 39-23 lead midway through the match.

After the break, Luxol added on a further two hoops, before drying up for practically the rest of the quarter. Kerygma took the opportunity, and an 11-0 run, with a series of Fiona Schembri free shots, made the game a close one. After three sessions Luxol were leading 45-37.

In the final session play quietened down a little, as Luxol kept control and had a reply to every Kerygma hoop. But late in the game Josette Calleja’s trey helped Kerygma to go to just a basket down. Alexia Jones’ trey killed off the match in favour of the Violets.

Luxol: 15 Mandy Sciortino, 14 Alexia Jones

Kerygma: 19 Fiona Schembri

Referees: Alfred Carbonaro, Jennifer Mangani

SN Suns JC 18

Depiro Still 81

(3-24)(7-20)(4-17)(4-22)

Suns were made to suffer against a Depiro side, who took the opportunity to give their youngsters time on court, as they displayed total superiority. It was Depiro’s second victory in their group, giving them a semi final spot.

Depiro fielded a changed side for this match, as Roseanne Falzon was again missing, as was Joselle Cardona. Suns were without Melanie Pulis.

Depiro started with a rush, compiling an 18-0 run, before Suns could answer back. The Mtarfa side kept command, ending the session with a Greta Zarb trey.

In the second quarter it was only slightly better for Suns, even though Depiro’s bench players went on court. They could still keep on adding to their tally, and Suns had their work cut out to keep the rampant Depiro players at bay. At the interval it was a 44-10 game.

After the break it was still Depiro, systematically adding on to their lead, and it was only Cettina Caruana’s brace of hoops to break the Depiro sequence, in breaks of 9-0 and 8-0. After three sessions it was a 61-14 match.

With such a large score play deteriorated a little, with errors on both sides, until Depiro picked up the rythym again. Once more it was Caruana who pierced the opposing defence, as the holders strolled through to a semi final place.

Suns: 10 Cettina Caruana

Depiro: 19 Dorianne Galea, 12 Greta Zarb, 12 Rhian Spiteri

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Jean Paul Sammut