Depiro 68

Floriana 45

(15-8)(21-19)(13-9)(19-9)

The start of the Gatorade League, early in the season, produced a Depiro win, as they overcame a Floriana side, who promised much at first, but faded away in the second part of the match, despite Sassoun Saakian's valiant efforts throughout. Depiro' s start to the season has now brought them two wins against supposedly somewhat similar opposition.

Depiro had Marko Arsovski missing, back home in Macedonia, for an operation. They included their new signing, Ian Terribile, in lieu of the injured David Agius. Floriana had Milan Pajicjust a spectator for this match, till his status is finally settled.

The Greens were disjointed at first, and Depiro took the opportunity to sink in a 12-1 run, with an accurate Antoine Costa and Isaac Tanti. When Floriana based their play on Saakian, it paid dividends, as he helped his side to a session-ending 7-3 run, although the Greens were hit by a Roderick Vella trey.

In the second quarter the entrance of Terribile on court brought a couple of treys, but these were nullified by Gareth Gilson's brace of treys for the Greens, for a close 23-17 score for Depiro.

The latter recovered with a 7-0 run, and a second Vella trey. Gilson kept up his three-point exploits for Floriana, who were giving a good account of themselves. At the interval it was Depiro leading 36-27.

After the break both teams weren't so accurate as before. Floriana's Saakian brought his side closer, but late in the session Depiro made a 9-0 run, to break clear again. Saakian's last hoop of the session made it a 49-36 score.

In the final quarter Floriana kept pace for a while, but Depiro's lead remained constant. The Greens began to feel the pace of the match, and suffered a telling 0-12 reverse, with a third Vella trey.

Karl Borg was ejected with a second unsportsmanlike foul, and the Greens were left behind, as the time trickled away, for a handsome Depiro victory.

Depiro: 18 R. Vella, D. Debono, 3 M. Sammut, 2 G. Muscat, A. Aquilina, 6 A. Tabone, 7 C. Cassar, 9 E. Lupo, 6 A. Costa, 9 I. Tanti, 8 I. Terribile

Floriana: K. Mifsud, 6 N. Falzon, R. Spiteri, 1 B. Riolo, 2 K. Borg, 13 G. Gilson, 1 A. Sultana, 22 S. Saakian

Referees: E. Mangani, JP Sammut, Alfred Carbonaro