McDonalds Depiro 63
Athleta 53
(12-10, 20-4, 10-25, 21-14)
Depiro made their way into the semi final but not before being given a harrowing time by Athleta, never mind the final score. Depiro enjoyed good leads even after the interval but then they had to pull out all the stops to prevent Athleta from producing a surprise result after forging in front. Athleta then suffered the indignity of ending up with a double figure loss.
Depiro paraded their new Maltese Australian Sam Brincat and Steffi De Martino was back from injury although with a face mask. Edwina Vella was missing. For Athleta, the missing player was Dorien Jager but Kelly Busuttil and Francesca Farrugia were only on the bench.
Athleta opened up well with a three basket spread and Claire Ciantar points but Depiro who took time to get going drew level in the same style mainly through Francesca Bianco.
Athleta regained their advantage with a brace of hoops but Depiro ended the period with a couple of Brincat triples as she made her presence felt.
The second quarter was dominated by Depiro who subjected Athleta to a heavy 15-0 run and another Brincat trey. Athleta could only muster their points late in the session and only managed to stop Depiro from improving on their advantage.
At the interval Athleta had fallen 14-32 behind.
After the break Athleta began their long way back. They started with a 9-2 run and a Leanne Sciberras triple. Depiro were yet with a good lead midway through the session but Athleta struck once more with a better 11-2 run beginning with a Lonneke Calleja triple.
They were close now and Depiro were hard pressed to hold on to their advantage with a 42-39 score.
In the last session Athleta were closer still with Depiro having difficulty to contain them. Athleta finally forged ahead only for Depiro to regain their lead and although the same lead changed hands twice more it was Depiro who pounced and make up a 9-0 run.
Athleta battled back but although they were close Depiro stuck to their task and emerged winners with a better advantage.
Depiro: A. Mifsud, G. Mifsud, J. Xuereb, 21 S. Brincat, M. Bonett, 8 F. Bianco, 8 T. De Martino, 11 A. Borg,2 C. Sammut, M. Mifsud, S. Micallef, 13 S. De Martino
Athleta: K. Busuttil, M. Azzopardi Duca, R. Sciberras, 5 L. Calleja, 3 L. Sciberras, 24 A. Ratomska, 2 G. Muscat, 3 D. McKeon, 2 C. Mifsud, 14 C. Ciantar, M. De Martino
Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile
Phoenix Qormi Mendoza 25
Alyssa Ashley Loyola 50
(6-14, 4-16, 11-10, 4-10)
Fresh from their Shield success, Loyola brushed aside Phoenix’s challenge to stride into the semis along with Luxol, Depiro and Hibernians who were drawn on a bye. Loyola did not exert themselves too much against the modest Qormi outfit and the winners’ bench players could have more playing time on court.
For Phoenix, Ruth Debrincat and Daniela Scicluna were missing and Martha Abela just on the bench. They gave a start to a French player Helen Potigny. Loyola were without Christina Grima and Adalia Bonanno.
Loyola suffered a first hoop before embarking on a long 12-0 run. They were stopped by Carla Marie Vella who netted a brace of hoops as Qormi sought to limit the scoring of their adversaries till the end of the period.
In the second session Loyola opened up strongly and they put in a hefty 13-0 run with a number of Justine Mangion points.
It was Vanessa Agius who replied for Phoenix but Loyola were still making their points as they broke clear by the interval when they enjoyed a 30-10 halftime score.
After the break and Loyola free throws Phoenix began to pick up points mostly from Carina Gauci Meilaq. They also managed a 7-2 run with a Nicola Said triple. Late in the quarter Loyola extended their advantage to a 40-21 score before the last session started.
This was short on points with the result in no doubt. Loyola had Laura Denooz with a couple of hoops and Phoenix answered with a Gauci Meilaq triple.
Then it was Loyola with three baskets in a row which served them till the end of the match.
Qormi: 4 V. Agius, 2 F. Micallef, 9 C. Gauci Meilaq, V. Mifsud Tommasi, M. Agius, 4 N. Said, D. Zammit, H. Potigny, 6 CM Vella, A. Camilleri
Loyola: 4 E. Moore, 7 J. Doughty, 10 L. Denooz, 8 D. Hollier, 4 K. Tonna, 13 J. Mangion, 2 A. Sciberras, 2 SJ Barbara, K. Borg
Referees: R. Darmanin, J. Mangani
Luxol 62
Starlites Sports Exp. 26
(15-2, 11-2, 21-4, 15-18)
The Violets had an easy time against the minnows and in fact denied their adversaries for the major part of the match before they slackened off.
Luxol made frequent changes on court but the points kept coming regularly.
The champions were missing Becky Naudi and Lara Chetcuti but Paula Ellul returned from injury. Starlites were under the guidance of Sandro Farrugia in lieu of Tino Riolo.
The Violets quickly took the game in hand and all five players put their names early on in the scoresheet including a Beverlee Zammit triple.
Starlites netted their only hoop of the period with Luxol adding on more points for a better advantage.
In the second quarter, although the champions’ dominance was still evident, the points took time to accumulate. Eventually Luxol put in an 11-0 run before Starlites managed another sole hoop just before the end of the period for a 26-4 score at the interval.
After the break, Luxol picked up a better rythym of scoring and their long run went up to 21-0 with a Greta Zarb triple. At the end of the session, Starlites made up a couple of hoops by Amanda Farrugia for a 47-8 score with a period still to go.
This was a more open one with Starlites being given ample space to hike up their points tally. Ariana Grixti went into a double figure score and at the other end Justine Busuttil Gaerty nailed a triple and Bev Zammit added on the champions’ last points.
Luxol: 8 S. Pace, 8 M. Sciortino, 2 L. Serge, 2 K. Portelli, 3 J. Busuttil Gaerty, 7 G. Zarb, P. Ellul, 8 A. Paul, 9 D. Muscat, 2 C. Baena Medina, 13 B. Zammit
Starlites: 4 A. Farrugia, C. Riolo, 10 A. Grixti, 6 S. Tabone, S. Cutajar, 2 L. Pirotta, N. Attard, S. Davis, 4 C. Scicluna, M. Cutajar
Referees: A. Carbonaro, S. Gouder