Bupa Luxol 52

Compleet IS SW 88

(10-26)(14-20)(9-22)(19-20)

willie vassallo

Both teams had started the season with wins, Bupa against Qormi and Compleet over both Siggiewi and Qormi. Bupa had Marco Matijevic just a spectator, due to illness, and Compleet were still to introduce their Frenchman, Julien Valdiserra, this season, although he gives his moral support from the bench. Compleet’s victory was unexpected, due to the large difference in points, and Bupa must buck up their ideas for future encounters with their opponents.

It was Bupa with the better start, as they repleid quickly to an Addison Bonnici hoop. Steve Schembri’s points began a 7-4 run, and the Violets progressed to a 10-6 score. All of a sudden the mood changed, as Compleet took control. Luxol were hit hard, as Silvio cassar began his side’s long run. Michael Naudi then took over, and his consecutive points, including a trey, brought about a solid 20-0 break, with Bupa helpless against the onslaught. In the second quarter Compleet were not done yet, as Omar Said and Chris Sammut put in their treys, for a 32-10 lead. Bupa began the long haul back , with their freeshots, but Etienne Bezzina still had another trey to sink. The Violets replied with an 8-2 run, to start hopes for a subsequent recovery, but Compleet took over once more, and their lead started to escalate again. At th einterval they held a strong 46-24 advantage.

After the break Bupa were in no position to contest the match. Compleet would dictate play to their heatrs’ content. A 10-0 run was finally stopped with a Steve Schembri trey, but then it was Compleet with more treys, in a further 8-2 run, Omar Siad putting in two long ones. The end of the session didn’t come soon enough for Bupa, who were trailing badly, at 33-68, with a session to go. The game seemed to take a similar course at first, as David Camilleri sank another trey for Compleet, in a 9-2 opening run. Dirk Schembri finally asserted his position in attack for Bupa, as he matched his opponents, and kept his side from going further behind than they were. It was still a bitter pill to swallow for Bupa, as Bezzina sank his second trey, late in the match, and Compleet could hold bragging rights over their neighbours for some weeks to come.

Bupa: R. Dalli, 9 M. Mercieca, 6 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, A. Borg, 3 A. Portelli, B. Micallef Trigona, T. Paris, 21 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 13 S. Schembri

Compleet: 16 M. Naudi, 5 J. Naudi, 9 D. Camilleri, 10 E. Bezzina, 5 C. Sammut, 15 O. Said, 2 C. Calleja, 8 A. Bonnici, 4 K. Baldacchino, 14 S. Cassar

Referees: Gordon Barbara, Jean Paul Sammut, Emanuel Mangani