SN Suns JC 17

Kerygma 46

(4-5)(6-7)(3-13)(4-21)

Kerygma made it three wins out of five matches, as they keep chasing the front pack.

Suns had their hopes, and were full of energy and fast play, but they were finally left behind, as Kerygma found their touch after the interval, and their treys made their mark in the last quarter.

Suns were at full strength, with the inclusion of new signings Graziella Santillo and Nicola Said. Kerygma had in-form Gozitan Cynthia Saliba, out injured, and her absence was felt at first.

The first session was devoid of points, as Said made the opening hoop, for Suns, but Kerygma made heavy weather in taking the lead, through Nadia Cassar. Santillo reduced the deficit for Suns, on a very low score, as both sides were riddled with mistakes.

In the second quarter the game was marginally better, Kerygma replied on Josette Calleja to help them hold on to their lead. Kerygma's advantage never went further than two hoops, and Suns managed to creep nearer on three occasions.

At the interval it was just 12-10 for Kerygma.

After the break, Kerygma obtained some breathing space, and it was Nadia Cassar who led her team, as three baskets in a row extended their lead. Suns could only reply through free throws, and Kerygma continued to pull away from their opponents.

After three sessions Suns had fallen 13-25 in arrears.

In the final quarter, Kerygma made doubly sure, as Suns faded away. Josette Calleja finally managed to sink her treys, as a strong 16-1 run included two long ones.

Svetlana Micallef stopped the break, but Kerygma came back, with a Lara Cauchi trey, as they dominated the last stages of the match.

Kerygma: 13 Josette Calleja, 11 Nadia Cassar, 9 Lara Cauchi

Referees: Alfred Carbonaro, Jennifer Mangani

Luxol 63

Sliema Wanderers 36

(13-5)(19-5)(23-11)(8-15)

Luxol, fresh from their prestigious victory over Hibs in the KO, did not have to exert themselves as much, against a Sliema outfit, who only made their presence felt after the interval, but by then, the Violets had already established a winning lead, and the rest of the match held no worries for them.

Luxol included dawn Spiteri, fresh from her long stay abroad, and Sliema had new signing, Abigail Muscat, ex-Depiro.

Just like against Hibs, Luxol started off with an 11-1 advantage, as Lara Chetcuti put in her close-range hoops. Sliema recovered slightly, late in the session, with a couple of hoops, but Luxol were still in command, as Diane Muscat made the last basket of the session.

In the second quarter, Luxol didn't let up, although Sliema had their contribution at first. Later on in the session it was Psaila Savona, who also sank a trey, and Mandy Sciortino, who put in most of Luxol's points, as they went on with an 11-0 run, till the interval, gaining a comfortable 32-10 advantage.

After the break, Sliema were hit hard yet again, with another 0-12 reverse, as Justine Mangion made her way on court, to sink her hoops.

Sliema rallied, with an 8-4 run of their own, led by Francesca Farrugia, but it was Lara Chetcuti once more to put the Violets on the right track, and increase their lead to a 55-21 score, after three sessions.

In the final quarter, Diane Muscat made a brace of hoops but, in between, Sliema managed an 8-0 run, by Abigail Muscat and Francesca Farrugia. Midway through the session Luxol changed their whole set of players, and Sliema's free shots made the score slightly more respectable, as The Violets seemed to lose interest at the end.

Luxol: 15 Francesca Psaila Savona, 12 Lara Chetcuti, 9 Diane Muscat

Sliema: 12 Francesca Farrugia, 8 Abigail Muscat

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Clive Terribile