Athleta Compleet IS 64
Bupa Luxol 52
(15-16)(13-14)(16-13)(20-9)
Athleta surmounted a difficult hurdle, after beating Bupa for the second time this season. It was anybody's game when the final session began, but a solid break for Athleta put them in a commqanding position, and the Violets did not have the means and time to stage a real comeback, and when the towel was thrown, Athleta's free shots did the rest.
It was bound to be a close encounter, but missed chances for both sides will surely be a source of worry for the coming matches.
Athleta fielded their present standard formation, but the champions had Abraham Portelli missing.
Bupa replied to Athleta's opening hoop with a Jean paul Bonnici triple, but Athleta answered back by going in front on three occasions.
The Violets made another trey, from Alan Borg, and this time it was Bupa who held on to their advantage, despite late points by Michael Naudi, for Athleta. In teh second quarter Athleta overturned the score, and went on to a 22-18 lead.
Bupa returned with free throws, but their opponents were soon pushing ahead, and three hoops in a row, with Omar Said netting twice, restored their advantage. The champions cut down on their deficit, and then tied the score. In the last two seconds of play Robert Azzopardi put in a couple of free shots, and at the interval Bupa had a slight 30-28 favourable score.
After the break Athleta were on level terms, but the Violets returned, only for Said to sink a triple. Bupa were still in front, and resisted Athleta's attempts to overtake, until Said netted his second trey.
With a session to go it was athleta just ahead, at 44-43. Athleta then made progress, as they piled up a strong 12-2 run, and Etienne Bezzina posted a couple of his triples, with Naudi helping out with further points. Athleta were on a double figure advantage, and the champions had work to do. Their efforts met stubborn resistance, and although they pulled back a little deficit, including a Steve Schembri trey, time was fast running out for them.
With their all-out play, they fell prey to their adversaries' fast breaks, fouling in the process. Athleta could net their free throws, and edge further in front, having already been sure of a positive result. Athleta kept up their aspirations, at the top of the standings, but the Violets are losing out on direct encounters.
Athleta: 18 M. Naudi, 6 C. Sammut, C. Doughty, 8 E. Bezzina, M. Giusti, C. Galea, 12 O. Said, 4 C. Calleja, 8 A. Bonnici, J. Zammit, 8 S. Cassar
Bupa: 7 M. Mercieca, 2 R. Azzopardi, 3 A. Spiteri, 6 A. Borg, 2 A. Cremona, N. Vasovic, T. Paris, 11 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 7 JP Bonnici, 14 S. Schembri
Referees: Gordon Barbara, Stephen Micallef, Alfred Carbonaro