Athleta went into their final of the season where they will meet the holders Siggiewi next Sunday. Athleta had already beaten Luxol in the group match and they repeated the dose as Bupa had a hard time against their rivals.
Athleta had too many guns for Luxol’s liking and when the winners began to pull away after the break there was nothing that Luxol could do even though they ended the encounter in a frenzy with their triples.
Athleta had the same players as in their last matches. Luxol had Chris Cardona instead of Sean Mizzi.
Dirk Schembri started Athleta off with his hoops but Luxol replied with a Nikola Vasovic triple as they went in front. Athleta rallied back with an 8-0 run but the Violets rode this setback over and a 7-0 run brought them level. Late in the quarter Athleta surged in front and Steve Schembri closed off with a triple.
The two defences were more attentive in the second period. The Violets’ points including a Jean Paul Bonnici triple had replies at the other end also with an Omar Said trey. Athleta then amde an 8-0 run to open up a worthwhile lead till the interval with a 30-21 favourable score.
After the break Vasovic netted a second triple but then Luxol fell further behind as Athleta made up a 9-0 run mostly through Kristin Baldacchino points.
The Violets had Robert Azzopardi with a trey but they went under pressure again and Athleta took up the remaining time until the end of the session to net a sound 13-2 run and steer well clear of their adversaries with a 53-34 advantage.
The triples were not lacking in the final period as Michael Naudi and Steve Schembri put in theirs for Athleta and Azzopardi and also Edgar Caruana Montaldo sank their long ones for Bupa.
The points were academical at this stage with Athleta on such a healthy lead. Azzopardi and Antoine Costa the latter with three netted more treys for the Violets which only served for a better scoreline as Athleta finished up comfortable winners.
Athleta: 16 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, 21 D. Schembri, M. Giusti, C. Galea, 9 O. Said, 2 C. Calleja, 5 A. Bonnici, 8 K. Baldacchino, 14 S. Schembri
Luxol: 4 M. Mercieca, 11 R. Azzopardi, A. Micallef Trigona,C. Cordina, 11 A. Costa, 10 N., 3 E. Caruana Montaldo, 7 JP Bonnici.
Referees: G. Barbara, A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile.