Athleta’s positive run since the start of the season continues.

They disposed of Luxol for the third time this season and although the latter kept in touch for the greater part of the match they couldn’t last the pace that Athleta impose in every game they play.

The last session was really Luxol’s downfall when Athleta sprang clear and a couple of the Violets’ players lost their cool and took no further part in the match although the second expulsion only took place in the dying moments of the game.

Athleta had Dirk Schembri missing but Alex Ryan was back. Luxol were without Nikola Vasovic.

The Violets went 5-2 ahead at the start with an early Petar Apcev triple. Athleta replied with a 7-2 run but Luxol were back with more triples from Apcev and Robert Azzopardi although in between Steve Schembri netted a trey for Athleta who grabbed another advantage.

Apcev brought both teams level with his third triple before the end of the quarter. The Violets went in front in the second period when both sides sank their triples Omar Said for Athleta and Antoine Costa for Luxol.

Athleta then made a 9-0 run but Luxol rallied to a point behind before there were more treys at either end Said again and Azzopardi’s second for the Violets. Athleta put in three hoops in a row but Azzopardi netted another triple.

At the interval it was Athleta on a 41-35 advantage.

After the break the points were not so eadily obtained at first. Athleta’s start with an Addison Bonnici triple went on to give them a double figure lead but Luxol responded with treys from Azzopardi and Apcev.

Luxol were jolted back till the end of the period when Etienne Bezzina and Said once more restored Athleta’s advantage to a 58-48 score.

Athleta kept up their momentum in the final session as they made up an

8-0 run with another brace of treys from Said and Luxol’s Marco Mercieca was sent off for dissent when his side fell further behind.

Azzopardi was still potting his triples with a fifth one and although Costa also netted another trey Athleta’s points were still frequent and their lead increased. Late in the game Azzopardi was also ejected from the match after remarks passed. Clayton calleja found time to sink his triple as Athleta coasted home.

Athleta: 18 M. Naudi, 2 J.Zammit, 7 E. Bezzina, C. Galea, 29 O. Said, 3 C. Calleja, 19 A. Bonnici, 6 K. Baldacchino, A. Ryan, 9 S. Schembri

Luxol: C. Cordina, M. Mercieca, 21 R. Azzopardi, A. Micallef Trigona, 28 P. Apcev, 8 A. Costa, T. Paris, 4 A. Cremona, E. Caruana Montaldo, 2 JP Bonnici, S. Mizzi

Referees: G. Barbara, A, Carbonaro, C. Terribile

Depiro Mtarfa 51

Tata Motors Loyola 56

(11-13)(15-9)(15-17)(10-17)

Loyola finally gained their first league win in which they avenged their defeat by Depiro in the opening round. They are now also on level points in the standings with the same Depiro.

The match was really decided in the last seconds when an impossible shot by Jovan Mihailovic, when possession time was about to run out for his side, went cleanly in the Depiro basket.

This effectively sealed Loyola’s win when they were merely leading by a single basket and with Depiro hotly trying to regain the lead they had lost after staying in front from just before the interval.

At the end Loyola’s players celebrated their second win in three matches over their opponents.

Depiro had their Spanish player Sergio Yuste missing. Lyola were without Mark Cilia and included two youngsters Francesco Nicastro and Luke Azzopardi.

Loyola made the start they had hoped for as they registered an opening 11-0 run with a Billy Zammit triple.

When Depiro started to find their feet they went back into the match with an 11-2 run which brought them to just a basket behind as Loyola were hard pressed till the end of the session to preserve their meagre advantage after their bright start.

The second period remained close as Loyola put in more triples from Stefan Vella and again from Zammit but Depiro had Roderick Vella also with a trey to stay only a point behind. Then they overturned the score with an 8-2 run Emanuel Lupo put in his hoops.

At the interval it was Depiro ahead with a 26-22 score.

After the break Loyola’s first efforts to make up the leeway found a stumbling block in JP Schembri’s triple as he went on court and Depiro held on to their advantage. Zammit nailed his third trey for Loyola as his side struck back and managed to draw level with an Anton Axiaq hoop.

Depiro then eked out another advantage but Shawn Pace took Loyola back into the fray with his triple although they were still a basket behind after three periods of play at 39-41.

Depiro increased their lead at the start of the last session when Andrew Aquilina netted his triple and his side were twice six points in front until Zammit put in another triple.

In a final flurry Loyola turned the score around with Mihailovic first thrusting them ahead and then in the very last seconds his hopeful throw flashed into the basket for a stunning triple and Depiro were floored.

It was really an uplifting start to the second round of play.

Depiro: 10 R. Vella, 3 JP Schembri, 6 D. Bugeja, 12 A. Aquilina, 4 J. Gatt, 11 E. Lupo, 4 M. Mallia, 1 I. Tanti, G. Mercieca

Loyola: 6 S. Pace, 15 B. Zammit, D. Camilleri, S. Borg, L. Azzopardi, F. Nicastro, 6 S. Vella, 6 A. Axiaq, 13 J. Mihailovic, 3 J. Anastasi, 3 J. Ransley, 4 A. Tabone

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, JP Sammut

Standings

AtoZ Electronics lead on 10 points from five matches and are followed by Siggiewi Derby and Bupa Luxcol on seven. Depiro Mtarfa and Tata Motors Loyola  have six points each. Siggiewi Derby have a game in hand.