Bupa Luxol 55

Depiro 61

(11-14)(14-18)(14-9)(16-20)

It was payback day for Depiro, after their two previous defeats against Luxol, the last one just a week ago, in the K.O., lost by a mere point. It was tight again, in this league match, and as Depiro kept pace with their more quoted opponents, their spirits rose, to win their first league match in three games. On the contrary, for Luxol, it was their first defeat, and Siggiewi are now sole leaders.

Steve Schembri began with a trey for Luxol, but Depiro had a reply in Emanuel Lupo, also with a trey. In fact the two players obtained the first few points for their respective sides. Luxol twice held a lead, but Depiro had a good ending to the session, and a 7-0 run put them ahead, as they shut out the Violets in the paint, and held on to a small lead.

In the second quarterboth sides displayed some fine fare, with Antoine Costa getting all of Depiro's points, including a trey. Chris Sammut served Dirk Schembri well, for Luxol, under the boards. Midway through the session Depiro were still holding on, with a 21-19 score intheir favour. Deoiro surged forward again, and David Agius' trey pushed them further in front. Turnovers helped Luxol to pass over this worrying moment, and they went to within a point. Depiro recovered enough, and added on to their lead, in a 6-0 run. and another Costa trey. Halftime score at 32-25.

After the breakLuxol started to creep towards Depiro, but anoth er Costa trey stopped them. Steve Schemvri replied instantly, with his trey, and the Violets went ona 9-2 run, to tie the score. A stalemate then occurred, and it was in the last seconds that Luxol's lost possession enabled Roderick Vella to give his side a 41-39 lead after three sessions.

In the final quarter it was Chris Sammut who instilled confidence in Luxol's efforts, and his two treys made up for Vella's incursions for Depiro. Midway through the session it was Luxol, at 48-46, but Depiro came forward again, hitting the Violets with a 9-2 run, and another Costa trey, in a 55-50 lead. In the last minute Luxol went to within a basket, but Costa's risky trey, instead of full possession, killed off Luxol's hopes, despite further points by both teams in the final seconds. Depiro were ecstatic at the end, in this match which marked the century in competitive games between the two sides. At the moment it's Luxol, with 57 wins to Depiro's 43.

Luxol: 16 C. Sammut, 3 M. Mercieca, 4 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, A. Borg, M. Portera, C. Pulis, 16 D. Schembri, 2 E. Caruana Montaldo, J. Jetson, 14 S. Schembri

Depiro: 15 R. Vella, C. cassar, 2 M. Sammut, 2 G. Muscat, A. Aquilina, 4 M. Mallia, 13 E. Lupo, 18 A. Costa, I. Tanti, 7 D. Agius

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Jean Paul Sammut, Stephen Micallef

Standings: 6 Siggiewi Smina (3-0), 5 Bupa Luxol (2-1), 5 Sliema Wanderers (2-1), 4 Depiro (1-2), 4 Floriana (1-2), 3