Depiro returned to winning ways, after three league defeats, to stay in contention for a place in the final three. They also did the double over Floriana, after their first league round victory. Floriana, with a short bench, had their moments, especially in the thris quarter, but their hopes were dashed when Antoine Costa let loose with his treys in the final session.
The Greens had Keith Mifsud and James Tanti missing, whilst Depiro, without their mentor, Dalibor Miatovic, ahd Adrian Mifsud in his place. They also recovered Marko Arsovski, after his operation abroad, two months back. David Agius was only a spectator and Clint Cassar has now gone to St. James, in a lower division.
Depiro made a cautious start, as Jeffrey Gatt used his height in the zone. At the other end it was Sassoun Saakian who obtained the points for Floriana. Depiro then struck quickly with treys, two each, by Roderick Vella and Antoine Costa, as Floriana fell behind in the first quarter, on a double figure deficit.
In the second session it was still Saakian for Floriana, but Costa’s free shots were keeping Depiro on a good footing. An Arsovski trey complicated matters further for Floriana, but the Greens recovered slightly near the end of teh session. They were still 26-38 behind at the interval.
After the break Floriana surprised their opponents, and a Garteh Gilson trey started off an 8-0 run, as the Greens went close, at 36-40. Depiro rallied back, and a small 6-1 run established their lead again, although Saakian’s trey brought Floriana close once more. After three sessions Depiro were leading 48-42.
In the final quarter Antoine Costa’s further tryes, four in all, left Floriana stranded, on a 44-60 deficit. The Greens tried to recover, with a handful of points, but then it was Arsovski’s treys, a couple, in a 10-0 run, to re-establish Depiro’s advantage. Floriana came forward again, late in the game, with a 9-0 run, to be stopped by an Andrew Aquilina trey, and then Depiro coasted home with more hoops.
Floriana: 4 N. Falzon, 3 B. Riolo, 13 G. Gilson, 23 S. Saakian, 10 A. Sultana, 5 K. Borg
Depiro: 8 R. Vella, 2 D. Debono. M. Sammut, 1 G. Muscat, 5 A. Aquilina, 2 A. Tabone, 11 J. Gatt, 16 M. Arsovski, 2 E. Lupo, 26 A. Costa, 4 I. Tanti
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Jean Paul Sammut, Stephen Micallef
Mellieha SVS 66
Bupa Luxol 72
(16-24)(17-17)(14-15)(19-16)
Bupa kept a firm hold on their top league placing, making the double over Mellieha, but they had a harder time in this second win, as Mellieha are getting stronger in their increasing top division experience. At the end it was a closer score, as Bupa introduced their remaining bench players. There was also some slack defending every time that Bupa opened up a good lead. but merit must also be given to the tenacious play being shown by the Mellieha outfit.
Mellieha had Michael Pisani and Joshua Aquilina missing, and Luxol’s Alex Bianchi was abroad. Andrew Cremona was roped in once more.
It was Mellieha with the better start, as Steve Sammut made their points, including a trey, as did Alan Borg for Bupa. Then it was Matijevic and Dirk Schembri to steer Bupa in front, but Mellieha came back, and Sammut levelled the score. At the end an 8-0 Bupa run, with a Robert Azzopardi trey gave them a useful first session lead.
In the second quarter Steve Schembri’s points for Bupa increased their advantage. Then it was Jide Jetson for Mellieha and Matijevic for Bupa, as points were shared. Trevor Degiorgio made points, including a trey, for Mellieha to crawl closer, but in the last stages both teams shared the points once more, and at the interval it was Bupa, at 41-33.
After the break Bupa were in a dominant mood again. Theys tarted off with Matijevic, and Dirk Schembri carried on, in a long 13-4 run, to establish a good 54-37 lead. Mellieha then hit Bupa hard, with a 10-2 run. till the end of the quarter, with a Steve Sammut trey, and more Julian Naudi points. With a quarter to go Bupa were 56-47 in the lead.
Bupa inched forward again, with the usual Matijevic, but Mellieha bounced back again, as Jide Jetson was very useful in the zone, for a 56-65 score. Time was running out for Mellieha, as Bupa made enough points, for a comfortable lead, which stood them well, given the late Mellieha rally, as Bupa’s subs made their way on court. Chris Sammut made consecutive points, including a trey, as Mellieha made the scoreline much closer than the game really was.
Mellieha: 10 J. Naudi, 18 J. Jetson, 2 S. Aquilina, 1 E. Xuereb, J. Muscat, B. Aquilina, 17 C. Sammut, 6 T. Degiorgio, 11 S. Sammut, 1 R. Loporto
Bupa: S. Mizzi, 4 M. Mercieca, 5 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 9 A. Borg, A. Cremona, M. Bonnici, 1 T. Paris, 14 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 32 M. Matijevic, 7 S. Schembri
Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro, Clive Terribile