Tata Motors Loyola 42

A to Z Electronics Athleta     77

(6-20, 7-16, 15-19, 14-22)

Athleta strode into the semi final putting behind them the defeat by Siggiewi. They took the game by the scruff of the neck to extinguish any faint hopes that Loyola had from this match.

They established a firm footing before the interval leaving Loyola to try to make a match of it in the remaining time which they did as they made a better impact in the last two sessions although always at a distance. Omar Said’s silky hands from the extended three point line put the finishing touch to the champions.

Loyola were missing three players David Camilleri Jovan Mihailovic and Luke Azzopardi and they introduced their youngster Matthew Farrugia. Athleta still have Steve Schembri unavailable and Clayton Calleja was also missing.

Athleta’s flowing style of play had them on a 12-2 lead as Said and Andras Fekete sank their triples. Till the end of the period Loyola managed to put in two more hoops but in between Athleta made up an 8-0 run to rest on a double figure advantage.

In the second quarter Loyola twice breached the champions’ defence but Athleta stopped them once more and put in a 10-0 run with an initial Said trey.

When Loyola stopped them late in the period Athleta found space to nail another triple through Mike Giusti. At the interval the champions were on a healthy 36-13 advantage.

The game after the break was of a more balanced nature despite the fact that the champions started with an 8-2 run.

Loyola managed a response with an 8-3 run of their own as athleta’s points came from another Said triple. Loyola also netted a trey by Shawn Pace as their points began to surge upwards. Athleta were still in command at 55-28.

The champions extended their lead further in the final session as David Bugeja also netted a triple. Loyola made up a good spell with an 8-2 run before Said sank his fourth trey. There was still time for more points at both ends and a further Said long one with the result in no doubt from way before.

Loyola 10 S. Pace, 10 B. Zammit, 2 C. Cassar, S. Borg,  S. Vella, 16 A. Axiaq, 2 J. Anastasi, 2 J. Ransley, M. Farrugia

Athleta 14 M. Naudi, 8 D. Bugeja, 13 D. Schembri, 3 M. Giusti, 9 A. Fekete, 19 O. Said, 4 A. Bonnici, 7 K. Baldacchino

Referees B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, C. Terribile