Bupa Luxol     72

Depiro Mtarfa     69

(17-19, 13-13, 28-8, 14-29)

Luxol are now alone behind Athleta in the standings. They had a hard won victory which looked comfortable for them after the break.

A late surge by Depiro, as they found the form which eluded them before in the match, was only foiled when time ran out. This was Luxol’s first win over Depiro in three games this season.

The only absentee for this match was Luxol’s Lee Ross still injured and only a spectator.

Depiro were sprightlier at the start and put in a 9-2 run by Greg Hamlin and Isaac Tanti. Later on Hamlin made a personal three basket spread but the Violets came up with an 8-0 run to draw closer.

Tanti added on two more hoops for Depiro and at the other end it was Jean Paul Bonnici with a Luxol triple which kept his side just a basket away.

In the second period Bonnici’s second trey had the Violets still just behind their opponents but Depiro also had Andrew Aquilina with a triple for a better advantage. The Violets went on level points after an 8-2 run and a Nikola Vasevic trey.

Depiro twice went in front until the interval buzzer and had a slight 32-20 advantage at the halfway stage of the match.

After the break and another hoop for Depiro, the same Mtarfa side were then left stranded as Luxol put in a strong 19-0 run, embellished by five triples from Jeron Belin.

Depiro had a hard road before them and Marco Mercieca didn’t help their cause as the Luxol player made his free shots to keep Depiro at a safe distance. A last second triple, again by Belin, gave the Violets a hefty 58-40 lead.

In the last quarter, Depiro opened up with a three basket spread but Luxol kept them away even though Depiro managed an 8-2 run with more triples from Aquilina and Adrian Micallef.

Luxol enhanced their advantage even though Hamlin also produced a triple. A late onslaught by Depiro had them on a 10-1 run as Aquilina netted two further treys but time ran out when they went dangerously close. Luxol breathed easier as they claimed the sole second place.

Luxol: CJ Cordina, 15 M. Mercieca, 33 J. Belin, 4 A. Micallef Trigona,  L. Ross,  A. Costa, 7 N. Vasovic,  T. Paris, M. Attard Montalto, E. Caruana Montaldo, JP Bonnici, S. Cappello

Depiro: 2  R. Vella,  JP Schembri, 17 A. Aquilina, 4 A. Portelli, 11 A. Micallef, E. Lupo,  M. Mallia, 10 I. Tanti, 25 G. Hamlin

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro