Sliema had some anxious moments in their game against Qormi, and at one time were only a point ahead, early in the third session, but when they turned on the pressure, they could move away to a better scenario. Qormi had another positive contribution to the game, even if the final score looks harsh against them.
Sliema pressed their opponents straight from the start, and Qormi didn’t find space, and conceded several turnovers. Adrian Micallef, with his good shooting, opened up a Sliema lead, and with Kristin Baldacchino’s trey, it was an 11-2 lead, stopped with a Jason Dalli free throw.
Sliema took the game in hand again, and fast play rewarded them with another good 11-2 run, till the end of the quarter, establishing a strong, early lead.
Joe Galea changed his squad in the second session, and Qormi could move the ball better.
Points were less harder for them, and with Simon Cauchi making his second trey, they started off the session with a 7-2 run. Sliema hit back, but Qormi were replying in turn, and their deficit did not suffer. JP Azzopardi sank a trey from some distance in the final minute, and at the interval it was a closer score, as Sliema were 30-23 in front.
After the break Azzopardi put in another trey, and this spurred them on, and they crept to just a point down, at 31-32. Michael Naudi went back on court for Sliema, and his drives extended his side’s lead, despite another Qormi trey, by Wayne Grixti. Sliema pulled away at the end of the quarter, and kept their interval lead, this time on a 43-36 score.
In the final quarter, as Sliema kept using their full court press, Qormi were guilty of several turnovers again. Duncan Cuschieri was prominent for Sliema, as they went further in front, with Qormi unable to keep up.
Sliema edged away to a 57-39 score, but Qormi resisted and strove for a better score, as Sliema’s bench players came back on court. This time Sliema had a good ending to the match while Reuben Baldacchino converted a spate of free shots for Qormi.
Qormi: 6 W. Grixti, 3 A. Grech, K. Scicluna, 7 N. Xuereb, A. Camilleri, 10 JP Azzopardi, 11 R. Formosa, 2 J. Dalli, 4 R. Baldacchino, C. Bugeja, 8 S. Cauchi, S. Farrugia
Sliema: 14 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, C. Calleja, 2 E. Bezzina, J. Galea, 2 T. Riolo, 17 O. Said, 10 A. Micallef, 6 D. Cuschieri, 11 K. Baldacchino, 4 S. Cassar, 4 J. Gatt
REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara
Floriana Cassar Ltd. 37
Depiro 80
(12-21)(7-12)(10-19)(8-28)
In a match which was expected to be a close encounter, it was Depiro who mastered Floriana with their powerful and high-velocity play. Floriana's crop of veterans couldn't keep up with Depiro's style of play, and they started falling behind in the second quarter, Depiro now face Siggiewi in their semi-final, come next weekend.
Depiro stuck to the same formation that lost to Luxol, whereas Floriana made just one change, with the absence of Robert Spiteri, bringing in Stanley Cassar, missing from the local scene for a number of years.
At first Floriana tried to contain Depiro's fast and furious play, and replied to their first two hoops. Depiro then managed to open a lead before the Greens could answer. A Roderick Vella trey gave Depiro a 12-8 lead, and then Emanuel Lupo came off the bench and grabbed a series of hoops, as Depiro broke free, at the end of the session.
In the second session Floriana were still chasing, although they managed to limit their opponents at first. Midway through the quarter Roderick Vella's sheer speed gave Depiro a couple of hoops to extend their lead, and they could control the situation as Floriana's attempts at the basket failed to find their mark. At the interval Depiro held a comfortable advantage, on a 33-19 score, with Floriana unable to counter Depiro's fast play.
After the break it was worse for the Greens. A 9-2 run for Depiro put more space between the two teams, and then it was the turn of Clint Cassar to leave the Floriana defenders stranded, although Gareth Gilson replied partially for Floriana. At the end of the third session it was a 53-29 score.
In the final session, as Floriana tried to be more positive, up popped David Agius for Depiro, and consecutive strikes, including a trey, made a shambles of the Greens' defensive set-up. Floriana couldn't find any answer, as Agius kept pouring them in. Flroiana did manage a contribution late in the quarter, but they were way behind, as Depiro coasted home, for their first seasonal win.
Floriana: 4 B, Riolo, 3 N. Falzon, 2 J. Paris, 2 M. Pace, B. Portelli, S. Cassar, V. Torbarov, 2 B. Grech, 6 G. Gilson, R. Mifsud, 5 G. Gauci Grech, 13 D. Ross
Depiro: 13 R. Vella, 8 C. Cassar, 2 M. Sammut, 1 G. Muscat, 2 A. Aquilina, 2 A, Tabone, 2 M. Ciantar, 5 I. Tanti, 18 E. Lupo, 2 M. Mallia, 25 D. Agius
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Stephen Micallef