A to Z Elec. Athleta 75

Tata Motors Loyola 72

(15-12, 27-13, 23-24, 10-23)

Athleta recorded their sixth victory over Loyola this season, but it was their hardest one yet, and they breathed a huge sigh of relief at the final buzzer, with their adversaries looking for a triple to send the match into overtime.

The champions were enjoying a healthy advantage at the interval, even so when the last session started, but Loyola came racing back, to a mere point behind.

Athleta had their standard team on court, but David Bugeja was left on the bench. Loyola were missing Jonathan Ransley, Joshua Anastasi and Luke Azzopardi.

Loyola put in a better start to the game, making up a 7-2 lead, with a David Camilleri triple. Athleta settled down, to build up an 8-0 run, beginning with an Omar Said trey. Athleta’s advantage was wiped out with a second Camilleri triple, but the champions regained their lead with a brace of baskets, and kept their advantage till the end of the quarter.

Both teams shared the play at the start of the second period, with Marco Todorovic putting in his points for Athleta, and Camilleri nailing another trey at the other end, for a tie. Athleta made up a sound 13-3 run, with a Steve Schembri triple, to forge decisively in front.

Camilleri sank his fourth triple, but the champions ended the session with Addison Bonnici points, in a 10-0 run, as they established a 42-25 score at the interval.

After the break, the points flourished at both ends. Todorovic obtained the champions’ first points, and rashanti harris did the same for Loyola.

Later on Loyola had a 7-2 run, with another Camilelri trey, who also netted a further triple. Dirk schembri made his hoops for Athleta, but Loyola were matching their opponents, although they were still at a distance, on a 49-65 score, with a session to go.

A 7-0 run by Harris began Loyola’s climb towards their adversaries. A little later two more Camilleri treys, in an 8-0 run, had them very close.

Athleta could open up their lead some more, but it was Billy Zammit this time, with a triple, as Loyola went to within a points.

Addison Bonnici free throws closed down the match for the champions, as Loyola were denied possession in the last few seconds of play.

Athleta 11 M. Naudi, 2 I. Buldakov, 20 M. Todorovic,  M. Giusti, 3 O. Said, 13 D. Schembri, 12 A. Bonnici, 5 K. Baldacchino, 9 S. Schembri

Loyola 6 S. Pace, 5 B. Zammit, 25 D. Camilleri, M. Cilia, S. Borg,  S. Vella,  7  A. Axiaq, 8 J Azzopardi, 21  R. Harris

Referees E. Mangani, S. Gouder, C. Terribile

Floriana Francesco Fenech 52

Siggiewi 81

(14-24, 10-24, 20-15, 8-18)

Siggiewi were streets ahead in this encounter, when they dominated the Greens, and did the double over them. Floriana just could not cope, despite Evan Fjeld’s huge haul of points. Siggiewi made sure of a high score, as Marco matijevic and Chris meier amassed impressive tallies also. Floriana were denied, when they were desperately trying to recover, and get themselves back in the match. The win now gives Siggiewi the edge over Floriana in direct encounters.

Floriana presented their usual formation. Siggiewi were just missing young Luke Grima.

Meier began for Siggiewi, for an early lead.l Ian Mercieca sank a triple for Floriana, but Matijevic replied in like manner. Fjeld kept the Greens close at hand, but Siggiewi stretched their advantage with an Alan Borg triple. Fjeld’s next hoops still did not bring the Greens nearer, as Siggiewi put in a three basket spread, with more Matijevic hoops, when they established a double figure lead. In the second session allof Floriana’s points came from fjeld’s hands, but Siggiewi were in a dominant mood, and besides more Matijevic points, there were also the triples, by Meier, Louis Camilleri and Karl borg. The Greens began to fall steadily behind, and at the interval Siggiewi were sitting pretty, on a heavy 48-24 advantage.

After the break Siggiewi did not let up at first, and an 8-2 run, mostly from Matijevic, had them on velvet. Fjeld did not want to bow his head, and all his points, along with a chris sammut trey, made up a solid 14-2 run. Floriana were still at a distance, and an Eman Xuereb triple for Siggiewi did not help matters for the Greens, with a 63-44 scoreline, and a session to go. The last period held no relief for Floriana, as they were still being controlled admirably by Siggiewi, and limited in their points tally. On the other hand the winners were overflowing with confidence, as Clement Kodomaris and Meier, the latter also with a second trey, simply extended Siggiewi’s advantage till the end of the match.

Floriana J. Curmi, 3 C. Sammut, 3 I. Mercieca, S. Sammut.2 C. Calleja, A. Baldacchino, 44 E. Fjeld, A. Sultana, 1 M. Ciantar

Siggiewi 2 R. Agius, A. Cutajar, 5 L. Camilleri, 5 E. Xuereb, 3 A. Borg, 3 K. Borg, 26 C. Meier, 7 C. Kodomaris, 30 M. Matijevic

Referees G. Barbara, E. Mangani, C. Terribile

Depiro Mtarfa 72

Bupa Luxol 71

(21-12, 22-19, 12-15, 17-25)

Depiro made sure of a playoff place, with their third win in four games over Luxol, which left the Violets out of the reckoning, for the first time since the playoffs were introduced. Luxol were always chasing their opponents, most of the time at a distance. In the last stages of the game the Violets made a huge effort, which took them nearer, until only a point behind, on three occasions. A late strategy failed, and Depiro just held their noses in front, for the victory.

Depiro had Isaac Tanti missing from the match. Luxol had their latest full side on show.

Depiro started with Andrew aquiline coming out of the blocks in earnest, with a brace of triples, and Roderick vella making up more points, in a 9-2 lead. There was no suitable Luxol reply, and Depiro went forward, with another 8-0 run, and Adrian Micallef points. The Violets finally began to make their mark, especially from Jeron belin, as they closed down a little on their adversaries, who still had a useful advantage. The second session was a more balanced one, Aquilina began with a third trey, and then it was a case of Luxol having to reply , through Belin and Mercieca, to points obtained from Abraham Portelli, and later on from Greg Hamlin. The Violets couldn’t get any nearer, with depiro quite capable of controlling the game till the interval, where they held a 43-31 advantage.

After the break, and early points from Emanuel Lupo, fresh from the bench, for Depiro, Luxol put in an 8-2 run, with a Lee Ross triple. Depiro then made their shots, mostly from Hamlin, leaving the Violets to catch up every time, with Belin and Mercieca hoops. That left depiro with a good lead, with a period to go, and a 55-46 score.Luxol began their haul back early on in the last session. An 8-2 run, with triples from Ross and Belin, put them in contention. Later on another Belin triple kept them close. Depiro eked out a better lead, but the Violets had Ross with another trey, and just a point behind. There wasn’t much time left, but Depiro made their free throws, when Luxol tried to stop the clock. Luxol tried to win the match outright, but Depiro just held out, to register an important win.

Depiro 10 R. Vella, JP Schembri, 2 N. Sultana, 15 A. Aquilina, 6 A. Portelli, 18 A.Micallef, 5 E. Lupo, M. Mallia, 16 G. Hamlin

Luxol CJ Cordina, 11 M. Mercieca, 51 J. Belin, A. Micallef Trigona, 9 L. Ross, A. Costa, N. Vasovic, T. Paris, E. Caruana Montaldo, JP Bonnici, S. Cappello

Referees B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, E. Mangani