Mellieha are in their first final among the elite, after only a season in the top echelon. They were gifted with a favourable draw, and after Floriana they faced a lower division side. Only last season Qormi were in the top division and Mellieha were in the second tier. Mellieha had quite an easy task, after their hard graft among the top teams, where they also acquitted themselves admirably. Qormi's run came to an end, after their victory over Suns.

Qormi are still plagued with injuries, with three leading players out of the side, and others not fully fit. Michael Pisani was missing for Mellieha, but Joshua Aquilina returned, after a long lay off, and Chris Sammut was back, after missing his team's defeat against Siggiewi.

Mellieha had an auspicious start, claiming a strong 17-2 run, as Jide Jetson bominated under the boards. Qormi recovered, with Keith Scicluna points, but Mellieha were still able to sink their hoops, and the Sammut brothers were instrumental in obtaining a large lead till the end of the quarter.

The second session was scarcer on points, as Mellieha put in their bench players. Qormi's contribution came from Scicluna and Simon Cauchi's free shots. Chris Sammut grabbed the larger share of the Mellieha points, as his side finished on a 7-1 run. At the interval Mellieha were on a 42-17 comfortable lead.

After the break Mellieha once more were knocking at Qormi's gate. An opening 9-1 run, starting with Julian Naudi free throws, pushed Qormi further behind, and Mellieha drove home their superiority. making up a better 12-4 run, and Jide Jetson put in his hoops.

Qormi stopped the sequence with a 7-0 run of their own, and also finished with the only trey of the match, from Roberto Formosa. After three sessions Mellieha were still on a commanding 60-32 advantage.

In the final session Qormi were still being pressed by a hungry Mellieha side, who changed their players, but the points kept coming, from different faces. Qormi were making their hoops in between, but at a slower rate. At the end it was a more open match, with more scoring opportunities.

Qormi: W. Grixti, J. Sant, 12 K. Scicluna, L. Zammit, D. Bugeja, 1 C. Vella, 7 R. Formosa, 11 A. Axiaq, G. Borg, 6 J. Anastasi, 2 S. Cauchi, 2 C. Bugeja

Mellieha: 16 C. Cammut, 17 J. Naudi, 6 S. Sammut, 4 S. Aquilina, 3 E. Xuereb, J. Jetson, 2 B. Aquilina, 2 J. Aquilina, M. Cauchi, 3 J. Muscat, 5 R. Loporto

BUPA Luxol 81

Compleet 73

(25-22)(21-8)(9-27)(26-16)

Compleet just can’t get the better of a Bupa side who ooze confidence in all their games. Compleet played on a par with their adversaries, and they came back from a massive deficit at the interval. At the end, though, Compleet’s efforts went the way of the other four previous encounters, and Bupa made their way into another final, where they will meet Meelieha, winners of the other semi final, last Wednesday.

The first session saw the two teams brimming with confidence, as regards shooting. It was Bupa on a 4-1 lead, with Compleet drawing level, at 9-9, then going in front with an Adrian Micallef trey. Bupa returned with an 8-2 run, and treys by Alan Borg and Robert Azzopardi. Then it was a case of Bupa making their hoops and Compleet answering back, as Bupa hung on to their advantage till the end of the quarter.

In the second session it was Steve Schembri who left Compleet perplexed. His shooting more then counterbalanced Compleet’s opening points. When his two treys found their mark, Bupa completed a stiff 17-2 run, helped by Alan Borg points, including another trey. Tino Riolo put in the session’s last hoop for Compleet, as they were left trailing 30-46 at the interval.

After the break Compleet seemed a transformed side. Their treys found their way in, as Omar Said and Etienne Bezzina started the way. Bupa had a reply, but Bezzina then sank a couple more treys , in a 10-0 run, and Compleet were back. Dirk Schembri was replying for Bupa, but Compleet were on song, and a further 7-0 run gave them an advantage. Bupa did manage to tie, but Compleet finished the quarter on a 57-55 slight lead.

The final session was all to play for. There was nothing to choose, as Compleet continually went in front, only for Bupa to reply accordingly. Robert Azzopardi sank his second trey, as Bupa went ahead, and Matijevic completed a 9-2 run, for a 72-67 lead. Compleet rallied, but Steve Schembri sank his third trey to boost Bupa enough, as the margin eased them through to a place in the final.

Bupa: R. Dalli, 4 M. Mercieca, 10 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 11 A. Borg, A. Bianchi, M. Bonnici, T. Paris, 14 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 21 M. Matijevic, 21 S. Schembri

Compleet: 19 M. Naudi, I. Buldakov, C. Calleja, 16 E. Bezzina, J. Galea, 2 T. Riolo, 7 O. Said, 16 A. Micallef, 2 M. Zammit, 1 K. Baldacchino, 10 S. Cassar, R. Mifsud

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani

Mellieha are in their first final among the elite, after only a season in the top echelon. They were gifted with a favourable draw, and after Floriana they faced a lower division side. Only last season Qormi were in the top division and Mellieha were in the second tier. Mellieha had quite an easy task, after their hard graft among the top teams, where they also acquitted themselves admirably. Qormi's run came to an end, after their victory over Suns.

Qormi are still plagued with injuries, with three leading players out of the side, and others not fully fit. Michael Pisani was missing for Mellieha, but Joshua Aquilina returned, after a long lay off, and Chris Sammut was back, after missing his team's defeat against Siggiewi.

Mellieha had an auspicious start, claiming a strong 17-2 run, as Jide Jetson bominated under the boards. Qormi recovered, with Keith Scicluna points, but Mellieha were still able to sink their hoops, and the Sammut brothers were instrumental in obtaining a large lead till the end of the quarter.

The second session was scarcer on points, as Mellieha put in their bench players. Qormi's contribution came from Scicluna and Simon Cauchi's free shots. Chris Sammut grabbed the larger share of the Mellieha points, as his side finished on a 7-1 run. At the interval Mellieha were on a 42-17 comfortable lead.

After the break Mellieha once more were knocking at Qormi's gate. An opening 9-1 run, starting with Julian Naudi free throws, pushed Qormi further behind, and Mellieha drove home their superiority. making up a better 12-4 run, and Jide Jetson put in his hoops.

Qormi stopped the sequence with a 7-0 run of their own, and also finished with the only trey of the match, from Roberto Formosa. After three sessions Mellieha were still on a commanding 60-32 advantage.

In the final session Qormi were still being pressed by a hungry Mellieha side, who changed their players, but the points kept coming, from different faces. Qormi were making their hoops in between, but at a slower rate. At the end it was a more open match, with more scoring opportunities.

Qormi: W. Grixti, J. Sant, 12 K. Scicluna, L. Zammit, D. Bugeja, 1 C. Vella, 7 R. Formosa, 11 A. Axiaq, G. Borg, 6 J. Anastasi, 2 S. Cauchi, 2 C. Bugeja

Mellieha: 16 C. Cammut, 17 J. Naudi, 6 S. Sammut, 4 S. Aquilina, 3 E. Xuereb, J. Jetson, 2 B. Aquilina, 2 J. Aquilina, M. Cauchi, 3 J. Muscat, 5 R. Loporto

BUPA Luxol 81

Compleet 73

(25-22)(21-8)(9-27)(26-16)

Compleet just can’t get the better of a Bupa side who ooze confidence in all their games. Compleet played on a par with their adversaries, and they came back from a massive deficit at the interval. At the end, though, Compleet’s efforts went the way of the other four previous encounters, and Bupa made their way into another final, where they will meet Meelieha, winners of the other semi final, last Wednesday.

The first session saw the two teams brimming with confidence, as regards shooting. It was Bupa on a 4-1 lead, with Compleet drawing level, at 9-9, then going in front with an Adrian Micallef trey. Bupa returned with an 8-2 run, and treys by Alan Borg and Robert Azzopardi. Then it was a case of Bupa making their hoops and Compleet answering back, as Bupa hung on to their advantage till the end of the quarter.

In the second session it was Steve Schembri who left Compleet perplexed. His shooting more then counterbalanced Compleet’s opening points. When his two treys found their mark, Bupa completed a stiff 17-2 run, helped by Alan Borg points, including another trey. Tino Riolo put in the session’s last hoop for Compleet, as they were left trailing 30-46 at the interval.

After the break Compleet seemed a transformed side. Their treys found their way in, as Omar Said and Etienne Bezzina started the way. Bupa had a reply, but Bezzina then sank a couple more treys , in a 10-0 run, and Compleet were back. Dirk Schembri was replying for Bupa, but Compleet were on song, and a further 7-0 run gave them an advantage. Bupa did manage to tie, but Compleet finished the quarter on a 57-55 slight lead.

The final session was all to play for. There was nothing to choose, as Compleet continually went in front, only for Bupa to reply accordingly. Robert Azzopardi sank his second trey, as Bupa went ahead, and Matijevic completed a 9-2 run, for a 72-67 lead. Compleet rallied, but Steve Schembri sank his third trey to boost Bupa enough, as the margin eased them through to a place in the final.

Bupa: R. Dalli, 4 M. Mercieca, 10 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 11 A. Borg, A. Bianchi, M. Bonnici, T. Paris, 14 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 21 M. Matijevic, 21 S. Schembri

Compleet: 19 M. Naudi, I. Buldakov, C. Calleja, 16 E. Bezzina, J. Galea, 2 T. Riolo, 7 O. Said, 16 A. Micallef, 2 M. Zammit, 1 K. Baldacchino, 10 S. Cassar, R. Mifsud

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani