Bupa Luxol 78

Tata Motors Loyola 71

(18-19)(22-20)(19-13)(19-19)

Luxol and Loyola provided ample entertainment in a high scoring match, which had two significant sways in the final period. Loyola, who were trailing for nearly the whole encounter, went in front in the very late stages of the match, but Luxol ended the game in a flurry, as their ace, Macedonian, Petar Apcev, drilled in two more triples, to take his long shot tally to seven. Loyola kept chasing and chasing, until they had nearly reached their objective, but they couldn’t subdue Apcev, and paid the price.

Bupa recovered Andrew Cremona, back from abroad, and Loyola still had Clint Cassar absent.

The game opened with a spate of treys. Jean Paul Bonnici began for Bupa, and David Camilleri and Billy Zammit replied for Loyola, in an 8-0 run. Loyola held on to their advantage, despite free shots from Robert Azzopardi. Bupa then had Apcev with two triples, but their lead was shortlived, as Camilleri sank his second Loyola trey. Further free throws pushed Luxol back in front, but a late Anton Axiaq flick gave Loyola a first session advantage. The triples were not found wanting in the second session, especially on Luxol’s side. Azzopardi nailed three of them, Antoine Costa sank two more and Apcev put in a further one. Luxol went on to take an advantage, after Loyola had first taken another lead, with Camilleri making a third triple. Luxol’s useful advantage was eaten away by Loyola, with a late session 8-0 run, and at the interval Bupa were only 40-39 ahead.

After the break Luxol caught Loyola in an opening 13-2 run, with their triples still pouring in. Apcev sank another brace, and Azzopardi put in another one. Loyola recovered, and made up a 7-1 run of their own, also sinking treys, Camilleri’s fourth and Zammit’s second. Loyola were closing in when Azzopardi gave Bupa some breathing space, with a fourth triple. With a session to go Luxol were leading 59-52. Luxol went further in front, but Loyola began their way back, with a 10-3 run, with Azzopardi making Luxol’s trey in reply. There were still more triples to come, Costa for Bupa and Shawn Pace and Camilleri again for Loyola, when the latter jumped ahead, late in the match. There was still Apcev to be reckoned with, as Bupa made a game ending 8-0 run, with two more Apcev treys, to clinch their victory.

Luxol C. Cordina, 4 M. Mercieca, 23 R. Azzopardi, A. Micallef Trigona, 29 P. Apcev, 10 A. Costa, 2 N. Vasovic, T. Paris, A. Cremona, E. Caruana Montaldo, 10 JP Bonnici, S. Mizzi

Loyola 11 S. Pace, 14 B. Zammit, 24 D. Camilleri, S. Borg, M. Cilia, 3 S. Vella, 5 A. Axiaq, 7 J. Mihailovic, 3 J. Anastasi, J. Ransley, 4 A. Tabone

Referees G. Barbara, E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro