A to Z Elec. Athleta 81

Bupa Luxol 51

(22-8)(14-9)(19-18)(26-16)

For Athleta it meant a passage to another final their fourth one this season and all of them against Siggiewi.

A steady opening assured them of a good enough advantage which had Luxol scrabbling to get back into the match. They never did and Athleta could administer the game to their own liking even though Luxol couldn’t complain of their players’ commitments in the match.

Both teams were back to their standard formations but Steve Schembri was left on the bench as in the previous encounter.

Luxol felt Athleta’s pressure though the game had a slow start from both outfits. Athleta took over in due course and piled up a solid 14-0 run with Dirk schembri grabbing half of the hoops.

Andrew Cremona put in Luxol’s first points but Athleta were making their free throws count. The Violets were on a double figure deficit at the end of the period despite a very late hoop for them.

In the second quarter Athleta took up the reins once more and a 9-2 run had them away again. The Violets’ efforts had them sharing the play for some time but their deficit was still high even when JP Bonnici netted his triple as quickly afterwards it was Omar Said sinking his trey for Athleta who obtained a sound 26-17 advantage by the interval.

After the break the Violets started with a Bonnici triple but Kristin Baldacchino did likewise at the other ring.

From then on every time that Athleta put in their hoops there was always a reply from Luxol even late in the period when Michael Naudi netted a brace of hoops. It was Marco Mercieca who made a Luxol triple seconds from the end of the session. Athleta were still 55-35 in front.

Luxol had no reprieve in the last period when Athleta opened up with a hefty 17-2 run with triples by Etienne Bezzina and Said.

When Luxol finally responded they had Petar Apcev and Nikola Vasovic also with treys but Athleta were still pouring their points for a very comfortable victory.

Athleta: 22 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, 17 D. Schembri, 6 E. Bezzina, 2 C. Galea, 10 O. Said, 12 A. Bonnici, 12 K. Baldacchino, S, Schembri

Luxol: C. Cordina, 10 M. Mercieca, R. Azzopardi, A. Micallef Trigona, 11 P. Apcev, A. Costa, 5 N. Vasovic, 2 T. Paris, 5 A. Cremona, E. Caruana Montaldo, 18 JP Bonnici, S. Capello

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, JP Sammut