Stung by their Super Cup defeat by Sliema, last weekend, Luxol returned for their first league game, and overwhelmed Qormi, making sure in the first two sessions. Qormi were having a hard time, but complacency set in on Luxol's part, and this helped Qormi to avoid a heavier defeat. In this game Qormi's Keith Scicluna was celebrating his award of the best player for last season's Second Division.
For this game Qormi were without their coach, Tony Camilleri, and ex-player, Michael Amaira, filled in. They also had Jason Dalli hampered by knee trouble.
Luxol opened up with an Alan Borg trey, but then play went on till nearly mid-session, before we had Qormi replying through the returning Adrian Baldacchino, who missed their previous game. Steve Schembri then sank another trey for the Violets, as they went on a good 17-2 run, which they dragged on till the end of the quarter,
Luxol didn't rest on their laurels in the second session, and a 10-0 run, with more treys by Steve Schembri and Alan Borg, opened up their good lead further. Qormi made a reaction, but they were still being pressed by a determined Luxol side, who notched up another long run, a 17-0 one this time, which included two more treys by Robert Azzopardi, and another Borg long one.
Dirk Schembri pitched in with half a dozen personal points. With less than a second to go for the interval Roberto Formosa broke the sequence with a couple of free shots. Score at 47-9, highlighting Luxol's dominance.
After the break Luxol's game lost its coordination, and became more individualistic. Qormi took the opportunity to share the play, with Sam Farrugia in the thick of things. Antoine Grech sank a trey for Qormi, closely followed by Alan Borg, with his fourth, for Luxol. Qormi ended the session with a series of free throws, for a 61-26 score, with a quarter to go.
Play was still energetic, but the points dwindled, for the first part of the session. Their young players were given their moment, amidst constant changing from both benches. Luxol recovered at the end, to post a 10-0 run in the last stages, after Qormi's last points, through a Reuben Baldacchino trey.
LUXOL: 4 C. Sammut, 4 M. Mercieca, 8 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 16 A. Borg, M. Portera, C. Pulis, 14 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 13 J. Jetson, 16 S. Schembri
QORMI: 2 W. Grixti, 6 A, Grech, 1 K. Scicluna, 7 S. Farrugia, A. Camilleri, 2 JP Azzopardi, 2 R. Formosa, 4 J. Dalli, 3 R. Baldacchino, C. Bugeja, 2 S. Grech, 5 A. Baldacchino
REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara, Emanuel Mangani
Floriana 45
Siggiewi Smina 87
(10-25)(9-18)(14-16)(12-28)
As expected, Siggiewi had no difficulty to subdue Floriana, in their first league match, since winning the Shield. A strong opening session and another useful quarter, with their substitutes on court, helped Siggiewi to make sure early on in the match. Floriana never stopped trying, against superior odds, and must be pleased with their score.
Floriana had a changed side from their last game, with Brian Grech, Mark Pace and other players missing. Siggiewi had Abraham Portelli serving his month's suspension, and Louis Camilleri on the bench throughout the whole match. They also introduced young Milan Pajic.
David Camilleri opened the proceedings for Siggiewi, with a couple of hoops. Floriana's opening basket started off a Siggiewi 9-0 run, as they profited from fast breaks. The Greens came more into the picture as the game progressed, and Siggiewi started to get over-confident. However a 7-0 run in Siggiewi's favour kept a comfortable lead for them.
The second quarter was a niggly one, short of points at first. Siggiewi's bench players were on court, putting in two hoops. Floriana replied through free shots, before the two sides sank treys, Matthew Shoults on one side and Don Ross at the other end.
Jean Paul Bonnici was the main points-getter for Siggiewi, although he also lost favourable opportunities. Another 7-0 run till the end of the session saw Siggiewi's lead increase once more. At the interval it was 43-19.
After the break Siggiewi made two hoops, but then Floriana had their best patch, with a trio of baskets. Siggiewi changed their whole side, bringing back seasoned players and young Milan Pajic. A 7-0 run by Albert Spiteri and David Camilleri stretched their lead before Don Ross' trey for Floriana. After three sessions Siggiewi were 59-33 in front.
In the last quarter an early two-basket opening by Floriana only served to spur Siggiewi on to better endeavours. An 11-0 run and a Peter Shoults trey started the side off and then Michael Barberi came on court and made baskets with ease, including a trey. The rest of the game was an open one, with both sides more intent on attack than defence.
FLORIANA: R. Spiteri, 6 N. Falzon, 6 B. Riolo, S. Cassar, 10 G. Gilson, 3 R. Mifsud, 6 G. Gauci Grech, 14 D. Ross
SIGGIEWI: 10 A. Spiteri, 14 D. Camilleri, J. Doughty, M. Pajic, 11 Michael Barberi, 12 P. Shoults, 19 JP Bonnici, 6 A. Bonnici, 7 M. Shoults, 6 A. Huizer, 2 E. Xuereb
REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro
Depiro 54
Sliema Wanderers 73
(13-17)(11-24)(13-14)(17-18)
Sliema disposed of a competitive Depiro side, who made life difficult at first, but then fell behind as Sliema applied the pressure on their opponents. A masterly performance by Michael Naudi highlighted Sliema's win, as they continued on after their Super Cup win over Luxol a week ago.
Sliema had Omar Said missing, from his sending off last week, though his case still has to be discussed before the Disciplinary Board. Coach Joe Galea is still out on a two-month suspension, and his presence in the Basketball pavilion was the cause of a protest by Depiro at the end of the match.
Depiro started on a cautious note, falling 4-12 behind, after some powerful Michael Naudi play. When Depiro became more adventurous, and man-marked their opponents, they started to come back, and Antoine Costa's trey helped to bring them just a point down, before a Duncan Cuschieri trey gave Sliema some room.
In the second quarter Sliema opened in a determined mood, and some strong play rewarded them with a good run, as, once more, they went clear of Depiro, who tried to hit back, but their points were far between, though they managed a Roderick Vella trey.
In fact Vella potted nearly all of Depiro's points in this session. Sliema then shifted to Adrian Micallef, who came off the bench, and his points helped his side to a 41-24 half time advantage.
After the break Sliema did not allow Depiro to creep near, as both sides replied to each other's points. Sliema went on an 8-0 run, to push Depiro further behind, but the Mtarfa outfit recovered.
Till the end of the session they managed to pull back with a 7-0 run, which they started with a Roderick Vella trey. With a quarter to go it was 55-37 to Sliema.
Depiro put in two hoops at the start, to make it more interesting, but Sliema didn't take long to get back into their stride again.
A good 15-0 run, with a Michael Naudi trey, completely killed off any hopes Depiro might have had of making a close game of it. Depiro reacted at the end, to hike up their score somewhat.
At the end of the match came Depiro's protest.
DEPIRO: 19 R. Vella, 4 C. Cassar, M. Sammut, G. Muscat, 3 A. Aquilina, 4 A. Tabone, M. Ciantar, 3 I. Tanti, 4 E. Lupo, 11 A. Costa, 4 M. Mallia, 2 D. Agius
SLIEMA: 20 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, 3 C. Calleja, 4 E. Bezzina, J. Galea, 4 T. Riolo, 13 A. Micallef, 9 D. Cuschieri, 3 K. Baldacchino, 17 S. Cassar, J. Gatt
REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo. Jean Paul Sammut, Stephen Micallef