Bupa Luxol     64

A to Z Elec. Athleta     72

(26-10, 20-9, 12-20, 6-33)

Luxol must be wondering how on earth could they have lost a match which they had dominated until the interval. They had also built up what looked like an unassailable advantage.

Most of the lead was still there at the start of the last period but Athleta amassed a heavy score to wipe out their solid deficit and also finished the game with points to spare against a bewildered Luxol outfit.

Luxol had Matthias Attard Montalto missing and the champions were with David Bugeja just on the bench.

Jeron Belin netted a quick triple for Luxol and although Athleta reduced their arrears twice the violets made up an 11-0 run ending with a Lee Ross triple.

Athleta’s sparse points were coming in between when the Violets then put in a further 10-2 run this time beginning with a Ross trey as Luxol opened up a solid lead.

In the second period there was still no adequate response from the champions. Ross went on with his triples as Luxol began with a sound 14-2 run.

There was nothing tangible forthcoming from Athleta as Belin put in another triple for the violets and Ross contributed with two more hoops. This time Athleta had replies but at the interval they were fully 19-46 behind.

After the break the Violets found it harder to obtain points. At first they could keep tabs on their opponents but then the champions made up an 11-2 run with a Steve Schembri triple.

Luxol’s reaction was another Ross trey as his side held on to a hefty advantage at 58-39 with a session still to be played. It was a different affair with Luxol suddenly in difficulties and Athleta coming on strongly to sniff an even chance of victory.

A heavy 16-1 run with an Omar said triple brought the champions a basket away. Ross came up with yet another trey but Athleta were pressing hard to restore their former deficit.

The Violets fell apart and Athleta just went on to register another strong 16-0 run till the end of the match which also took them away from their adversaries for an incredible turnaround.

Luxol:  CJ Cordina, 9 M. Mercieca, 15 J. Belin, 2 A. Micallef Trigona, 30 L. Ross, A.     Costa,  N. Vasovic,  T. Paris,  E. Caruana Montaldo, 8 JP Bonnici, S. Cappello

Athleta: 16 M. Naudi, I. Buldakov, 7 M. Todorovic, 5  O. Said, 7 D. Schembri, 11  A. Bonnici, 19 K. Baldacchino, 7 S. Schembri

Referees: G. Barbara, A. Carbonaro, L. Camilleri