Bupa 82

Mellieha SVS 50

(19-11)(22-13)(9-12)(32-14)

Bupa made short shrift, after a minor scare at the start, of a Mellieha side, who are tasting the hardship of life in the top division.

They have a number of experienced players, but other teams have healthier benches. Bupa's all-round superiority resulted in a comfortable win, in this second Gatorade league match.

Bupa were with their standard formation, but they were facing two ex-players, Chris Sammut and Jide Jetson. Mellieha also included new signing, Steve Sammut, to team up with his brother, and Samuel Aquilina returned from injury, for his first match this season, and also joins his two other brothers.

Bupa made a quick start, with a 6-2 lead, with Alan Borg hoops. Mellieha rallied back, and some incisive play, and personal Julian Naudi points, including a trey, gave them an unexpected 11-8 advantage. Bupa took over again, and a sequence of Steve Schembri points, nine in all, with two treys, completed a strong 11-0 run.

In the second quarter Chris Sammut sank a trey for Mellieha, as they sought to stem Bupa's onslaught. They had a reply at first, but then Matijevic was making points under the board, and an 8-0 run pushed Bupa away from their opponents. Mellieha recovered once more, but their 6-2 run was replied to from Bupa at the end, and at the interval the Violets were leading 41-24.

After the break the scoring went down considerably. Mellieha managed a couple of successive treys, from Naudi and Michael Pisani, but Bupa relied on Dirk Schembri, as he made all his side's points. Mellieha were unable to make significant inroads in the score, and after three sessions Bupa were still holding a 50-36 advantage.

The last quarter was in Bupa's hands.

Starting with treys by Steve Schembri and Robert Azzopardi, they ran up an 11-0 break. Mellieha made a brace of Naudi free shots, but Azzopardi was still putting in his treys, as Bupa's lead escalated. Both teams finished the game with their bench players on court, and points were more plentiful.

Bupa: S. Mizzi, 6 M. Mercieca, 13 R. Azzopardi, 3 M. MIcallef, 4 A. Borg, A. Bianchi, M. Bonnici, 3 T. Paris, 14 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 24 M. Matijevic, 15 S. Schembri

Mellieha: S. Magro, 13 J. Naudi, 6 S. Sammut, 4 S. Aquilina, E. Xuereb, 9 C. Sammut, 2 B. Aquilina, J. Aquilina, 5 M. Pisani, 4 T. Degiorgio, 2 J. Jetson, 5 R. Loporto

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Stephen MIcallef, Alfred Carbonaro

Compleet ISSW 44 Siggiewi Smina 69

(12-15)(12-12)(9-21)(11-21)

Compleet didn't start the defence of their league title on a right note. They were soundly beaten by a Siggiewi side who grew in stature as the game progressed. Compleet were not their usual selves, ans Siggiewi exploited cracks in defence, not frequently seen in Compleet matches.

Compleet had Etienne Bezzina injured, but Duncan Cuschieri turned out, after missing their first match, against Bupa. Albert Spiteri is still unavailable for Siggiewi.

Louis Camilleri began with a trey and further points for Siggiewi, but Compleet first went to a point down, at 6-7, then a Michael Naudi trey gave them the lead. Siggiewi rallied to go in front again, and a Kristinn Baldacchino trey for Compleet was not enough, as Siggiewi held on, with an Abraham Portelli hoop, for a first-session lead.

Siggiewi had Portelli's free shots to extend their advantage in the second quarter, to a 21-14 score. Compleet grimly stuck to their task, and a hard-earned 10-2 run brought them a brief lead. Siggiewi rallied till the end of the session, as JP Bonnici's free throws and Portelli's hoop gave them a 27-24 advantage at the interval.

David Camilleri found his 3-point touch at the start of the third quarter, with two efforts, and Siggiewi managed a long 13-2 run, ending with a third Camilleri trey. Compleet tried hard, but Siggiewi remained steadfast. Their good lead kept them on till the end of the session, on a 48-33 scoreCompleet didn't have an adequate reply in the final session, as Siggiewi were riding the crest of the wave. An Addison Bonnici trey in a 7-1 opening run left Compleet stranded, and Siggiewi were swinging the ball around rapidly. Compleet were a beaten lot at the end, as Siggiewi started off their league campaign with a bang.

Compleet: 11 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, 1 C. Calleja, J. Galea, 3 T. Riolo, 1 O. said, 6 A. Micallef, D, Cuschieri, 3 K. Baldacchino, 15 S. Cassar, 4 R. Mifsud

Siggiewi: B. Zammit, 10 L. Camilleri, 16 D. Camilleri, 3 J. Doughty, 22 A. Portelli, 4 I. Mercieca, 8 P. Shoults, 2 JP Bonnici, 4 A. Bonnici, JP Antoncic, I. Stefanovic, L. Camilleri

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara, Jean Paul Sammut