Athleta pass second Shield hurdle

Tata Motors Loyola 56

A to Z Electronics Athleta 84

(12-20)(13-19)(14-25)(17-20)

Athleta kept up their winning start to the season, and a second win followed that against Siggiewi. Loyola failed to repeat their gallant display against Luxol, as they were hard pressed by a determined Athleta outfit. With five players on double figure tallies Athleta never gave their adversaries any real time to settle, after establishing an early advantage. Not that Loyola remained passive observers, but their opponents were on a different level of play.

Loyola had Jonathan ransley back in the fold, after missing a large chunk of last season's play, He replaced Francesco Nicastro. Athleta had two players missing, Kristin Baldacchino and Etienne Bezzina, with the rest being the same side that beat Siggiewi.

Athleta raced into an 8-0 lead at the start, with Loyola still at sixes and sevens. Although Alex Tabone opened the scoring for the latter, they had to suffer more points against, from addison Bonnici. Loyola then began to combine better, and posted an 8-0 run, as Tabone netted more hoops. Towards the end of the quarter Athleta strode forward once more, and two triples, by Jonathan Zammit and Bonnici, the latter with a last second one, gave their side an 8-2 run, and a healthier lead.

In the second period the two sides shared the first four hoops, before athleta imposed their style of play again. Midway through the session they built up a solid 13-2 run, mainly through Dirk Schembri and Michael Naudi. Loyola fell rapidly behind, although Billy Zammit netetd a triple for them, and more free shots. At the interval Athleta were on a 39-25 advantage.

After the break Athleta were still hungry for more, and opened up with a 9-0 run, and a Steve Schembri triple. Loyola tried to react, but were faced with a second Schembri trey. Loyola's three hoops only served for Omar Said to sink his points for Athleta, also with a triple. The two sides then replied to each other's baskets, as Athleta ended the period with a favourable 64-39 score. There was more to come from both teams in the final session. A 7-0 athleta run had a second Zammit triple. Loyola countered with an 8-2 run of their own, but Athleta could react well. They put in another 7-0 run, with a second said trey. Once again Loyola responded with a 7-0 run, and a Shawn Pace triple. Athleta finished off the match with a Chris Galea trey, to obtain a comprehensive victory.

Loyola: 9 S. Pace, 5 B. Zammit, 6 D. Camilleri, C. Cassar, S. Borg, 2 M. Cilia, 2 S. Vella, 6 A. Axiaq, 10 J. Mihailovic, 6 J. Anastasi, 2 J. Ransley, 8 A. Tabone

Athleta: 19 M. Naudi, 6 J. Zammit, M. Giusti, 3 C. Galea, 14 O. Said, 1 C. Calleja, 12 A. Bonnici, 17 D. Schembri, 10 S. Schembri

Referees: G. Barbara, JP Sammut, A. Carbonaro