Bupa Luxol 78

Siggiewi Smina 71

(22-20)(20-14)(14-20)(22-17)

Bupa Luxol kept up their unbeaten league record, but they had to pull out all the stops, and even come back from a six-point deficit, midway through the last quarter.

Siggiewi stuck to their task, but some individual play prevented them from going for the kill, when Bupa were momentarily uncertain. As it was, Bupa recovered, to make it three wins in a row, and also record their second seasonal win over Siggiewi, after their Shield semi final win over Smina.

Steve Schembri opened the proceedings, with a trey for Bupa, followed soon after, with another trey, from Robert Azzopardi. In-between siggiewi were putting in their free shots, and they went 9-8 in front, with an Addison Bonnici hoop.

Bupa then took over, with an 11-2 run, starting with a second Azzopardi trey, and a Matijevic same effort. Siggiewi rallied at the end, although suffering a second Matijevic trey, but Smina put in a 9-3 run, ending with a Peter Shoults trey, for a single basket deficit.

In the second session Shoults’ second trey tied the score, but Bupa had Azzopardi to push them in front again, as his third trey helped in a 32-25 advantage.

Siggiewi reacted with more Shoults points, going near once more. Bupa kept calm, and their free throws opened up a 42-34 halftime lead, as both teams had used up their foul quota very early on in the quarter.

After the break Siggiewi had David Camilleri sinking a trey, as they went near again, but Dirk Schembri popped up for Bupa Luxol, as his side went clear once more. Siggiewi put in two quick hoops, but Bupa were still in control, as they profited from some opposing individual play, and a better lead. Towards the end of the sessionm it was Addison Bonnici’s personal points, in a 7-0 run, as Siggiewi made it to a basket down, at 54-56.

In the last quarter Bupa held their lead for a time, but Siggiewi were adamant, and a 9-0 run, with an Abraham Portelli trey, put them in a 64-58 lead.

Bupa were stung, and a 13-2 strong break regained their advantage, after a second Steve Schembri trey. At the end Dirk Schembri’s two close range hoops closed down the game, and Bupa could play out time for the rest of the match.

Bupa: 2 M. Mercieca, 13 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 4 A. Borg, 2 A. Bianchi, M. Bonnici, T. Paris, 17 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montalso, 24 M. Matijevic, 16 S. Schembri

Siggiewi: B. Zammit, 12 L. Camilleri, 7 D. Camilleri, 4 J. Doughty, 7 A. Portelli, 2 I. Mercieca, 12 P. Shoults, 9 JP Bonnici, 18 A. Bonnici, JP Antoncic, I. Stefan Camilleri

Referees: Gordon Barbara, Jean Paul Sammut, Anthony Micallef

Depiro 38

Compleet IS SW 74

(2-24)(10-24)(16-9)(10-17)

Compleet had to erase their Shield final defeat by Bupa, a week earlier, and Depiro were to bear the brunt of their opponents’ pressure, as Compleet left Depiro behind in the first part of the match. They appeared sated after the interval, and Depiro made the score more respectable, with their display in the last two sessions. This, in fact, was Depiro’s first league defeat, after their opening two victories, and now Compleet are on a par with them.

Etienne Bezzina was unavailable for Compleet, after his wife, Lucienne, gave birth to their first son, in midweek.

Compleet gathered two quick hoops, and Depiro had a reply, with a basket of their own. From then on Compleet made the session their very own, as they tore Depiro apart, with a 20-0 run. Two Omar Said treys, and other points by Michael Naudi, Silvio Cassar and Adrian Micallef, left Depiro floundering, in the opening quarter.

In the second period Depiro looked as if they had recovered a little, but Compleet, changing all of their players on court, took a stranglehold again. Michael Naudi made a total of twelve consecutive points, including a couple of treys, in a strong 18-0 run, which spiralled Compleet to a 45-6 advantage. Depiro hit back, at last, with a David Agius trey and more hoops, but in between Roderick Mifsud obtained points for Compleet, and at thge break it was 48-12.

After the interval it was Depiro who caught the eye. They began with an Antoine Costa trey, but after some balanced play Compleet were still practically with the same advantage.

Depiro then passed through a bright patch, with a 9-0 run, ending with a second Costa trey. Compleet co-ordinated their game again, and their free shots put them on a 57-28 lead, after three sessions.

In the final quarter it was Depiro once more with a better start, but it didn’t last long, and Compleet took over, sinking their treys, through Said, Duncan Cuschieri and Jonathan Zammit, as they ended the match on a good note, and a comfortable win, their second in three league matches.

Depiro: 7 R. Vella, D. Debono, 2 M. Sammut, G. Muscat, 2 A. Aquilina, 4 A. Tabone, M. Mallia, 2 C. Cassar, 6 E. Lupo, 6 A. Costa, 2 I. Tanti, 7 D. Agius

Compleet: 29 M. Naudi, 5 J. Zammit, C. Calleja, 1 J. Galea, T. Riolo, 9 O. Said, 6 A. Micallef, 3 D. Cuschieri, 3 K. Baldacchino, 15 S. Cassar, 3 R. Mifsud

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara, Alfred Carbonaro