Gatorade League 1 Div. Men

Luxol Basketball Club were celebrating their 900th competitive match, as they kept a firm hold on their top placing in the table. Bupa made a stirring start, in the opening two sessions, to set the tempo of the game, but then were guilty of some slipshod play in the latter part of the match. Floriana had to struggle hard at first, but then took what came to them, and ran up a good score, which will boost them in the games to come.

Floriana’s reply to Bupa’s onslaught in the opening session came from Sassoun Saakian, as he put in two hoops, in a 4-20 reverse. Bupa had Steve Schembri, Alan Borg and Robert Azzopardi making treys, and Dirk Schembri ran up consecutive personal points, midway through the session, as Bupa established a commanding lead.

In the second quarter Noel Falzon made the first hoop for the Greens, but then Bupa took over once more. They began with a second Azzopardi trey, and embarked on a long 18-2 run, with some fluid play. Floriana recovered a little at the end of the session, to share some points with their adversaries, but they were still way behind at the interval, with Bupa on a 45-16 lead.

After the break Bupa had some bench players on court, and Floriana, sensing some slack play by their opponents, put in a spurt, and effected a 10-3 run. Bupa rallied a bit, but the scoring didn’t change much, and after three sessions there was a 56-30 score.

In the final quarter Floriana were still exploiting Bupa’s somewhat indifferent play, and Karl Borg sank a couple of treys. Dirk Schembri made free shots for Bupa, and as the Greens cut down on their deficit, it was Steve Schembri who turned up for Bupa, and personal points, including a trey, restored Bupa’s lead. Joseph Tanti and Saakian then made treys for Floriana, as the match petered out quietly.

Bupa: 9 M. Mercieca, 12 R. Azzopardi, A. Cremona, 3 A. Borg, 1 A. Bianchi, 2 M. Bonnici, 2 T. Paris, 20 D. Schembri, 2 E. Caruana Montaldo, 15 M. Matijevic, 18 S. Schembri

Floriana: 8 N. Falzon, 3 J. Tanti, P. ferrante, 5 B. riolo, 2 R. Micallef Trigona, G. Gilson, 17 S. saakian, 12 A. Sultana, 8 K. Borg

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani, Stephen Micallef

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Men’s 2 Div. League

St. James Hospital 53

Qormi Kia 45

(14-10)(13-11)(12-7)(14-17)

St. James recovered from a lean spell, to go closer to the top teams, as well as handing Qormi their first league defeat. This match is also subject to a ruling, as Qormi protested after the game, on the alleged whereabouts of suspended St. James coach, Paul Sultana. St. James were always in the lead, and held enough of a lead to thwart Qormi in their quest to get close and try to get a win.

St. James were without the services of injured Clint Grixti. Vince Spiteri is still oput of Qormi’s ranks, and they also suffered an injury to Adrian Baldacchino, as they tried to make a game of it.

The Saints began with a Steve Pace trey, and they went to a 7-2 lead. Qormi reacted with an Adrian Baldacchini trey, and went to within a point, but Shawn Pace’s trey extended St. james’ advantage, late in the session.

In the second quarter Simon Cauchi, plagued by injuries this season, made a return, and sank a trey for Qormi, but the Suns held on to their lead, on an 18-16 score, despite Qormi’s pressure. The Saints then combined well, with a 9-0 run, including treys by Shawn Pace, his second, and also Steve Pace’s double. The Saints’ lead was then cut down by Qormi, before the interval, as Roberto Formosa sank a trey, Score at 27-21.

After the break St. James kept the upper hand, and managed to increase their lead. They were 33-22 ahead, when Baldacchino made a second trey for Qormi, but the Saints resisted their adversaries’ efforts, and after three sessions they had a 39-28 advantage.

In the final quarter Antoine Grech’s hoops reduced Qormi’s deficit, but they lost Baldacchino, through injury. St. James made the issue safe, with a 9-0 run, with Clint Cassar and Steve Pace the protagonists. Qormi replied with an 8-0 run, and treys by Simon Cauchi and Antoine Grech. St. James extended their lead once more, and the match ended with a third Cauchi trey for Qormi, who were not near enough, leaving Suns at the top of the standings.

St. James: 15 Steve Pace, 10 Nigel Sultana

Qormi: 13 Roberto Formosa, 10 Antoine Grech, 10 Adrian Baldacchino

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Stephen Micallef

Peugeot Women's League