Athleta joined the two teams who were awarded a bye, Siggiewi and Depiro, into the semis. The champions didn’t have to make use of the first game’s advantage, as they obtained a better lead in the second match. The Violets threatened briefly, at the start of the second quarter, but Athleta’s resilience pulled through, as they drew away once more, and keep control of the match.

Athleta had Michael Naudi injured from the day before, and Ivan Buldakov was avroad. Luxol recovered Andrew Cremona, from the first match.

Athleta eked out an early lead, and then put in a 9-2 run, ending with a David Bugeja triple. Luxol bounced back. To go to within a hoop, but for Athleta there was Mohammed Kuwaid with another triple, when they eased away from their adversaries.. The Violets crept back, just before the period’s end, with a Lee Ross triple. In the second quarter Ross kept on, this time with free throws, as his side were a point behind. It was Addison Bonnici who the champions further away, in an 8-0 run. Luxol’s response was not so hot, and Athleta made up another 7-0 run, with a triple from Omar Said. They established a solid lead, but Luxol replied with a 9-0 run, and a Jeron Belin trey, which took them to the interval, but Athleta still held a 38-33 advantage.

After the break Belin nailed a second triple, but Athleta held on to their lead, with a brace of hoops. Although the Violets replied likewise, the champions had a positive spell, and Luxol’s two point deficit grew bigger. Not only that, but until the end of the period they also put in an 8-1 run, and went on to a 56-44 score. Athleta had Bugeja with a second trey, in the last session, and Luxol were further behind, before Belin notched up a series of free shots, which only helped to reduce the arrears. Athleta had enough of an advantage, along with the first game’s lead, to canter through the rest of the encounter, and a semi final place.

Athleta 15 D. Bugeja, A. Fekete, 12 D. Schembri, M. Giusti, 8 O. Said, 20 A. Bonnici, 4 K. Baldacchino, 13 M. Kuwaid

Luxol 3 CJ Cordina, 3 M. Mercieca, 31 J. Belin, A. Micallef Trigona, 15 L. Ross, A. Costa, 4 N. Vasovic, T. Paris, 1 A. Cremona, E. Caruana Montaldo, 5 JP Bonnici, S. Cappello

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