Bupa 78
Compleet IS SW 66
(14-23)(21-11)(18-18)(25-14)
Gatorade League 1 Div. Men
Bupa got the better, once more, of Compleet, their fifth straight win, after opening seasonal defeat. It was a close match throughout, with neither side being able to open up a telling lead over their rivals, except at the end of the game, when Bupa made their free shots, as Compleet sought possession. Although the score was a high one, by standards, the shooting was affected by the cold conditions prevailing during the match.
Bupa revovered Bobert Azzopardi and Alan Borg, after their two-game syspension, but Edgar Caruana Montaldo was missing. Compleet’s Matthew Zammit seems to be out of the reckoning, and Michael Naudi’s injury kept him on the bench.
After a cuatious opening Bupa started to put their hoops in, but Compleet had a good answer, and after trailing for some minutes, they made a hefty 17-1 run, beginning with an Omar Said trey, and Silvio Cassar was potting from his favourite position. Bupa recovered near the end of the session, and free shots, coupled with a last-second trey by Robert Azzopardi, took them off a double figure deficit.
In the second quarter Bupa kept up their rally, and a long 11-1 run, with some sound play by Dirk Schembri, gave them a slight 25-24 advantage. Bupa went on, to a better lead, after a second Azzopardi trey, but Compleet replied through free throws, to go ahead, at 32-30. Bupa’s Azzopardi sank a third trey, keeping his side judt in front at the interval, on a 35-34 score.
After the break both teams stayed close to each other, with the lead changing hands several times. Matijevic came up with personal points, in a 9-3 run, for a 49-44 lead. He then replied likewise to ta an Adrian Micallef trey, to hold Bupa ahead, but only just, as Micallef sank a last-second trey for Compleet, and a 52-53 deficit. Bupa lost Alan Borg on fouls in this session.
In the final quarter Bupa held off Compleet’s sonstant pressure, but when they went behind, a fourth Azzopardi trey gave them back the lead. Compleet tied the score once more, but then it was Steve Schembri, with his trey, for a 65-62 Bupa lead. The Violets also lost Alex Bianchi on fouls, but Compleet’s efforts were thwarted, as Bupa made tellinhg free shots at the end, to steer clear, and keep their unbeaten league run.
Bupa: R. Dalli, 5 M. Mercieca, 22 R. Azzopardi, S. Mizzi, 2 A. Borg, A. Bianchi, M. Bonnici, T. Paris, 20 D. Schembri, 20 M. Matijevic, 9 S. Schembri
Compleet: I. Buldakov, C. Calleja, 1 E. Bezzina, J. Galea, 7 T. Riolo, 20 O. said, 17 A. Micallef, 2 K. Baldacchino, 19 S. cassar, R. Mifsud
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara, Anthony Micallef.
Depiro 78
Mellieha SVS Reflections 67
(after overtime) (16-6)(14-18)
(24-13)(10-27) - (14-3)
This was a thriller, as Mellieha came back from the dead, in the final quarter, to force extra time, only to be bitterly disappointed, as Depiro dominated overtime, to pay back for the defeat suffered in the first round, against Mellieha, and go above them in the standings. They also did Siggiewi a favour, as now the latter are sure of a final three place, in the last phase of the league.
Both sides had decimated line-ups. Depiro had four players missing, one of them being Marco Arsovski, only a spectator on the ebnch. Mellieha were also hit with the absence of five players.
Mellieha began with a couple of hoops, which found a reply from Depiro. Mellieha went in front once more, but from then on, till the end of the session. it was Depiro who made all the points, including a Roderick Vella trey, in an 12-0 run. Mellieha failed all their attempts, being continually under pressure, and fell behind.
In the second session Vella sank his second trey for Depiro, but Jide Jetson was commanding in the zone, and his points kept Mellieha in the hunt. Alex Tabone’s points for Depiro had a reply from Mellieha’s Julian Naudi, as his side went 18-23 in arrears. Matthew Cauchi made his top division debut for Mellieha, as he started the seaosn with an injury. Eman Xuereb’s trey for Mellieha had an answer from Andrew Aquilina’s trey for Depiro, and at the interval Depiro held a 30-24 advantage.
After the break Depiro controlled the play for some time, but Mellieha came up with a good patch of their own, with an 8-0 run, and a Steve Sammut trey. They progressed to a point behind, at 33-34. Depiro recovered well, and made up a strong 16-1 run, with Vella and Aquilina treys. This was topped by a Chris Sammut trey, but Vella sank his fourth trey for Depiro. After three sessions Depiro were fully 54-37 in the lead.
In the final quarter Mellieha made an early bid, with two Julian Naudi treys. Depiro rallied, and went into a seemingly sure 62-47 lead. Mellieha pulled off a grand recovery, as they begam eating away at their deficit. An 11-0 closing run, starting and ending with Eman Xuereb treys, tied the score, and the match had to go into overtime.
Mellieha’s desperate flurry had taken a lot out of them, and Emanuel Lupo put Depiro in front. Both sides had to suffer players being fouled out, as Mellieha’s efforts brought them 67-70 behind. Their final attempts were thwarted, and Depiro’s free throws sealed the game, and Vella closed down the match with his final points, including a sixth personal trey.
Depiro: 35 R. Vella, 1 D. Debono, 1 G. Muscat, 15 A. Aquilina, 8 A. Tabone, 6 J. Gatt, 10 E. Lupo, 2 I. Tanti
Mellieha: 11 S. Sammut, 16 J. Naudi, 13 S. Sammut, 10 E. Xuereb, 5 M. Pisani, M. Cauchi, 9 J. Jetson, R. Loporto
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Jean Paul Sammut, Emanuel Mangani
Men’s 2 Div. League
Mosta 46
Valletta Ballers 56
(15-3)(13-12)(13-23)(5-18)
Mosta must be kicking themselves, having let this match slip away from their grasp. True, they had a short bench, but on court they dominated the first part of the match, onlt ot let the initiative pass into Valletta’s hands. The Citizens, who were hit badly by Mosta’s treys, came up with their own, at the end of the match, to run out relieved winners, and keep up their bid for a final three place.
Mosta played the match with only seven players. Valletta put Ray Mizzi on court for the first time this season, and Nello Xuereb returned, after missing some matches. They were still without Ivan Riolo.
Mosta surprised the Citizens with a fiery start, an 11-0 run, and two treys by Oliver Sammut and one by Steve Gouder. Valletta’s reaction was weak, and Gouder went on making his points, as Mosta increased their lead, and going into double figures at the end of the session.
In the second quarter Valletta seemed to find their feet, replying to some Mosta free throws with a 7-0 run of their own, and a Matthew Shoults trey. Some stale play followed, but then Mosta got into their stride once more, and an Adrian Pace trey, and Gouder fast breaks, made up an 11-4 run, with Nello Xuereb replying with his trey. At the interval Mosta were leading 28-15.
After the break Valletta’s first hoops had an instant reply from Gouder. Valletta crept nearer again, onlt to be hit with a thrid Oliver Sammut trey. The Citizens hit back. with an 8-0 run, and a couple of treys by Mark Pace. Mosta came up with another trey, a second by Adrian Pace. Valletta’s last hoops were nullified by a Reuben Abela trey, as Mosta held on to their lead, after three sessions, on a 41-38 score.
In the final quarter Adrian Pace’s third trey didn’t help Mosta much, as the Citizens managed a good 14-2 run, and a third Mark Pace trey. All the other points were from Shoults’ hands, as he put in eleven personal points, and a further three treys. Mosta looked a beaten side, a pity, as they had a decent performance for most of the match.
Mosta: 19 Steve Gouder, 11 Adrian Pace, 11 Oliver Sammut
Valletta: 15 Matthew Shoults, 13 Mark Pace
Referees: Jean Paul Sammut, Emanuel Mangani
Suns were beaten by Qormi a week ago, in the Louis Borg Cup, but in this league match it was a different matter.
Bell Med SN Suns 46
Qormi Kia 32
(14-13)(13-9)(11-3)(8-7)
Suns emerged victorious, and at long last, managed to beat Qormi for the first time this season, after four failed attempts. Qormi were never really effective throughout the match, ans Suns could control the situation. They won this low-score encounter, which was affected by the cold conditions reigning on the court.
Trevor Grech returned for Suns, but Michael Amaira was injured. Qormi had Wayne Grixti on the bench for the first time this season, after a long lay-off. Antoine Grech was added to the injured list, which included Vince Spiteri and Adrian Baldacchino.
Free shots helped Suns to make up a 5-2 lead, but Qormi replied with a couple of hoops. Suns then relied on their treys, one by Hubert Agius and two by Michel Curmi. Qormi’s reply came through Anton Axiaq, as they kept close to Suns, and ended the session with a slim one point deficit.
In the second quarter Simon Cauchi’s trey tied the score for Qormi, at 16-16. Suns’ next hoops also had a reply, as Qormi levelled the score once more. Suns had a good ending to the quarter, as a Trevor Grech trey was followed by a 7-2 run. At the interval Qormi had fallen 22-27 behind.
After the break Qormi were just a shadow of the side playing in the opening two sessions. Suns didn’t set any houses on fire, but a 7-0 run, starting with a second Trevor Grech trey, took them to a double figure lead. Qormi didn’t fare so well with their personal marking, and Suns could improve on their advanatge. After three sessions they were holding aood 38-25 lead, in this low-score match.
In the final quarter both sides took ages to make any points. More than half of the session had passed, with Axiaq netting two hoops for Qormi, and Clayton Agius making free shots for Suns. Joshua Anastasi’s trey for Qormi opened up some possibilities, but they abandoned their defence, and Suins gratefully made a trio of hoops to make sure, and hold on to their top position in the standings.
Suns: 13 Michel Curmi, 11 Hubert Agius, 9 Trevor Grech
Qormi: 13 Anton Axiaq
Referees: Alfred Carbonaro, Clive Bonnici