Luxol will be Sliema’s opponents in the KO final, after they disposed of Qormi, and also recorded their third win over them this season.

Luxol took a while to settle down, but they were already pulling away in the second quarter. Qormi were rudely jolted in the third session, as the Violets took almost complete control.

Luxol will face Sliema in the second final, after the Super Cup.

Luxol had Jide Jetson in good form at the start, although Qormi were not sitting back, as Antoine Grech sank a trey. Luxol twice went back in front, but Qormi’s reply was immediate, and a 7-2 run with a Roberto Formosa trey, pushed them in front again.

Till the end of the session there was a surge by Luxol, as they ran up a 9-0 break, with Dirk Schembri hoops and a Robert Azzopardi trey, edging slightly away from Qormi.

In the second quarter Qormi tried a quick rally, but Chris Sammut came off the bench for Luxol, and an 11-0 run with a closing Sammut trey took the Violets clear, on a 33-16 score. Qormi stopped the break, and replied to Luxol’s next hoops, through Jason Dalli, as Marco Mercieca put his name in among the Luxol scorers.

At the interval Luxol held a 38-22 advantage.

After the break Qormi were slammed hard, after making the opening basket. An 11-0 Luxol run paved the way as they then steamrolled to an 18-2 long run, leaving Qormi to close down the session with a Carlos Bugeja hoop, but trailing desolately behind.

After three sessions Luxol were leading 67-30.

In the final session it was a quiet affair, with everything already decided. This open quarter was not so hot on points at first, although there was more space in the paint. The bench players found their way on court, and into the scoring sheet, as the emphasis wasn’t on a tight defence as the match came to the end.

QORMI: 2 W. Grixti, 5 A. Grech, 9 K. Scicluna, S. Gatt, 2 A. Camilleri, J. Anastasi, 5 R. Formosa, 6 J. Dalli, 2 R. Baldacchino, 4 C. Bugeja, 4 S. Cauchi, 3 A. Baldacchino

LUXOL: 6 S. Sammut, 12 M. Mercieca, 10 R. Azzopardi, 4 M. Micallef, 4 A. Borg, 2 A. Bianchi, C. Pulis, R. Dalli, 18 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 8 J. Jetson, 12 S. Schembri

REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Jean Paul Sammut

Floriana 50

Dakar Sliema 71

(16-18)(7-17)(12-22)(15-14)

Sliema booked their place in the final with their expected victory over Floriana which wasn’t so clear cut. Everything went well in the end, with Sliema’s young players also enjoying some of the play on court. Floriana must be satisfied with their performance, given the strength of the opposition.

Floriana had Brian Grech back from abroad, whilst Sliema recovered Etienne Bezzina, and Kristin Baldacchino returned from Australia. Tino Riolo is still abroad, Omar Said still had his second match suspension, Duncan Cuschieri only sat on the bench, with a groin injury and Silvio Cassar was missing, due to his father’s demise a few days ago.

Sliema went out in their usual style, and after a hoop against, they progressed to a 9-2 lead. Floriana stuck to their task, and caught Sliema on the wrong foot several times. They surprisingly went ahead, at 12-11. Sliema reorganised themselves, and finished the session on a good note.

In the second quarter Sliema were more wary, and after opening with an 8-2 run, they limited Floriana to a single hoop, besides some free shots. On the other hand the Greens were careful in defence, and Sliema had to go all out to increase their lead, with Julian Galea inserting himself well in the side. At the interval Sliema were 35-23 ahead.

After the break, Floriana were hit instantly by an 8-0 Sliema run, as the Blues broke clear. Flroiana recovered and matched their opponents for some time. It didn’t last long, and a 7-0 run, with an Adrian Micallef trey, pushed Sliema further ahead, and make the game completely safe. After three sessions Floriana had fallen35-57 behind.

In the final quarter both sides sought permutations in their play, and substitutions were frequent. Floriana were that little bit more enterprising, as Sliema opted again for their younger players. Bernardo Riolo played his heart out for Floriana, as they registered a good result, despite the defeat, also making a 9-0 run in the last stages.

FLORIANA: 10 N. Falzon, 2 J. Paris, 4 A. Sultana, 12 B. Riolo, 1 B. Grech, V. Torbarov, 4 K. Borg, G. Gilson, 4 R. Mifsud, 4 G. Gauci Grech, 9 D, Ross

SLIEMA: 13 M. Naudi, 2 J. Zammit, 6 M. Zammit, 10 E. Bezzina, 4 J. Galea, C. Calleja, A. Southward, 17 A. Micallef, 9 K. Baldacchino, 4 T. Vella, 6 J. Gatt

REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Alfred Carbonaro