Floriana 29

Mellieha Bullets 58

(5-18)(7-8)(8-13)(9-19)

Mellieha went to the top of the standings, but with a game more than St. James, as they swept past Floriana for the fifth time in six matches, although the defeat they suffered against the Greens still rankles.

Floriana played in spurts, but were overshadowed by Mellieha, who picked themselves up well, after the two consecutive losses they had suffered.Both sides were not playing at their best formations.

Floriana had Roderick Mifsud and Joe Tanti missing, but Mark Ciantar and Nello Xuereb returned. Mellieha had their mentor, Sandro Farrugia, abroad, and Hilary Fenech took up coaching duties once more. They were without Ben Aquilina and Robert Loporto.

Mellieha made a quiet but fruitful start, as they built up a 10-0 lead, with Samuel Aquilina grabbing a brace of hoops.

Floriana stopped the run with a Karl Azzopardi trey, but Mellieha kept going on, and they registered another 8-2 run, with Steve Sammut on fast breaks. This went on till the end of the period, for a good, early advantage.

Mellieha weren't so accurate in their passing and shooting in the second session. They began with free shots, but then the Greens made their presence felt more, with a 7-2 run, with a Nello Xuereb trey, which effectively were their contribution in this session.

They crept nearer till the interval, but despite the low score of the quarter, Mellieha were still on a 26-12 advantage, midway through the match.

After the break Mellieha subjected thee Greens to a 0-10 opening run, as Matthew Bonnici also sank a trey. When Floriana stopped the break, they made a 7-2 reply, through free throws and a second Karl Azzopardi trey.

With a session to go Mellieha were comfortable in a 39-20 advantage.

Once more Mellieha made a good start to the final quarter, as their couple, Steve Sammut and Jovan Mihailovic, went through the opposing defence, after an opening Antoine Grech hoop for Floriana.

A 14-2 run left the Greens completely behind, and it was Mark Ciantar who carried Floriana's flag till the end, as they strove to enhance their score. Matthew Bonnici sank a second trey for Mellieha to finish off the game.

Floriana: 16 Mark Ciantar

Mellieha: 20 Steve Sammut, 17 Jovan Mihailovic

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Stephen Micallef

* * *

Bell Med SN Suns 54

Starlites Ker Grill 39

(9-12)(17-12)(12-8)(16-7)

Suns beat Starlites for the second game running, and they opened up the issue of the third spot in the standings, and a place in the play offs.

Starlites are passing through an uneasy patch, and they are registering low scores in their games. After establishing themselves as tough nuts to crack to the two top sides, they were eliminated from the KO by the same Suns, and now they are in danger of being left out of the play offs.

It was only at the start of the encounter that they went in front, but from the second session onwards they had to chase their adversaries all the way.

Suns had Trevor Grech missing, and Starlites were without Paul Caruana Turner.

Starlites' first two hoops had a reply from Suns' Robert Camilleri, with his three point play. Starlites kept on, and they put in an 8-2 run, as Tino Riolo was effective in the paint.

Suns rallied late in the session and went near as Michael Barberi sank a trey for a good Suns finish.

Suns kept up their rythym in the second period, as they made an opening 7-0 run, when Bjorn Grima made his way on court.

Starlites fell behind, and although they managed to reply, they were hit once more with further treys, the second by Barberi, and by Mark Schembri.

Starlites had Mark Pace to revive them, as he put in a couple of treys, and at the interval his side had gone on to within a hoop of their opponents, at 24-26.

After the break both sides found difficulty in obtaining points. After Starlites' opening free shot, it was Suns with a couple of hoops, but the two sides were near enough, and they went closer still, as Duncan Cuschieri made a brace of close range hoops.

Tino Riolo then tied the score, but Suns rallied well, and till the end of the quarter they put in an 8-2 run, when Hubert Agius went back on court, and bagged his points. After three sessions of play Suns were on a 38-32 advantage.

Starlites' free throws in the final session brought them near, but in their eagerness to make up the leeway Suns struck with their fast breaks, to register an 8-0 run, through Grima and Agius.

Starlites had too much to make up in the little time left, and Suns could afford to make mistakes in attack, as they increased their lead fractionally, for their third league win.

Suns: 14 Hubert Agius, 10 Robert Camilleri, 10 Michael Barberi, 10 Mark Schembri

Starlites: 11 Tino Riolo, 10 Ivan Buldakov

Referees: Gordon Barbara, Clive Terribile

Standings

Mellieha Bullets 16 pts; St James Hospital 15; Starlites Ker Grill 13, Bell Med SN Suns 12; Floriana 10.