BUPA Luxol 84
Floriana 51
(17-5)(23-6)(24-11)(20-29)
Luxol booked a semi-final place in the easiest of fashions, as they trampled Floriana, who were making their first appearance this season, after opting to play in the top division. Obviously they are going to find this new environment a hard mountain to climb, given the harsh realities of life at the top level.
Floriana included several new signings, including Noel Falzon, Brian Portelli, Roderick Mifsud, and veterans Brian Grech and Don Ross. Floriana managed to post the first two hoops of the game, but then, as expected, they had to suffer Luxol's reaction, as the Violets turned on the heat. A 9-0 run was halted by a Roderick Mifsud free shot, but Luxol went on till the end of the session, with another 8-0 run, to establish a good lead.
In the second session Luxol continued where they left off, periodically stopped by a Floriana hoop. Floriana tried as hard as they could, but Luxol didn't leave any breathing space. A session-ending 9-0 run left the Violets on a strong 40-11 score.
After the break Steve Schembri put in a trey for Luxol and, except for Josef Paris free throws, the Greens suffered an adverse 2-16 run, but then had a partial recovery, through Gareth Gilson points. After three sessions it was a 64-22 game.
In the final quarter Don Ross opened up with a couple of treys for the Greens, but Luxol had a good reply. With Luxol easing off late in the match Floriana took the opportunity to hike up their score, and Don Ross showed his prowess, and enhanced his personal points tally, ending up as the game's top scorer.
Luxol: 6 C. Sammut, 18 M. Mercieca, 17 R. Azzopardi, 4 M. Micallef, A. Borg, 5 M. Portera, 14 D. Schembri, 4 E. Caruana Montaldo, 8 J. Jetson, 8 S. Schembri
Floriana: R. Spiteri, N. Falzon, 4 J. Paris, M. Pace, B. Portelli, 2 B. Riolo, V. Torbarov, B. Grech, 8 G. Gilson, 7 R. Mifsud, 5 G. Gauci Grech, 25 D. Ross
Referees: Gordon Barbara, Jean Paul Sammut
Men 1 Div. - Group A
Siggiewi Smina 72
Qormi Kia 61
(20-14)(21-14)(17-15)(14-18)
Siggiewi were aiming to gain top spot in their group, and for Qormi it was not only their first outing this season, but also their first game among the top brass in their short history. Siggiewi had an expected win, but they were sorely pressed at times, as Qormi gave their share in the game.
Siggiewi had Albert Spiteri on the stands as a spectator, out for some weeks, with an ankle injury. Qormi had JP Azzopardi and Roberto Formosa as their new signings.
Siggiewi started off with a couple of treys, but Qormi were not sitting back, and Antoine Grech opened up their account, also with a trey. Siggiewi kept on sinking their treys, with Peter Shoults steady from the distance, but Azzopardi, also noted for his long-distance shots, had his share for Qormi, and they were not far behind after the first session.
In the second quarter Siggiewi put in their subs, but still went on increasing their lead, as David Camilleri found time. At the interval it was a 41-28 match.
After the break Siggiewi were caught cold as Qormi put on pressure, and Siggiewi were still going on with their player rotation.
A 10-2 run brought Qormi close enough, at five points down. Siggiewi then turned on the heat, and some intense pressing and fast breaks enabled them to register a sound 15-0 break, snapped by a Nello Xuereb trey. In the last quarter it was a more balanced game at first. Qormi prevented Siggiewi from increasing their lead, but Siggiewi were never in danger at the end.
Siggiewi: 2 S. Sammut, 11 L. Camilleri, 8 D. Camilleri, J. Doughty, 6 A. Portelli, M. Barberi, 14 P. Shoults, 5 JP Bonnici, 19 A. Bonnici, 4 M. Shoults, 3 A. Huizer, E. Xuereb
Qormi: 5 W. Grixti, 15 A, Grech, 2 K. Scicluna, 3 N. Xuereb, a Camilleri, 14 JP Azzopardi, 7 R. Formosa, 2 J. Dalli, R. Baldacchino, C. Bugeja, 5 S. Cauchi, 8 A. Baldacchino
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani