Bupa Luxol 65
Floriana F. Fenech 78
(19-11, 19-19, 12-19, 15-29)
In this showcase match, between these two sides, when they will meet in the K.O. final, in two days’ time, it was Floriana with a victory, which lifted them from a fourth place in the standings, and which could change the semi final line ups in the championship playoffs, depending on the result in the last two matches. It was Luxol with an advantage till the interval, but the Greens came out in determined fashion after the break, to overturn the score, and take the spoils.
Luxol had Jean Paul Bonnici just on the bench. Floriana were with their full, latest, formation.
The Violets opened up briskly, with a 7-2 run, starting with a Lee Ross triple. Flroiana stuck it out, and managed to eke out a slim advantage. Luxol came back, with a 9-2 run, and a Jeron Belin triple. Floriana didn’t recover sufficiently in the remaining time, sharing the points with their opponents, as Luxol held on to their lead.
In the second quarter the Greens made their triples, but Luxol made a string of hoops, to enhance their advantage. The Violets began with a 9-3 run, and Andrew Micallef Trigona baskets. Floriana’s points came from an Ian Mercieca trey. Later on it was Chris Sammut with another triple for Floriana, only for Luxol to reply with an 8-0 run, and another Belin triple. Mercieca promptly netted his second trey, and started the Greens off on a good 11-2 run, which took them to the interval, but Luxol were still ahead, at 38-30.
After the break the Violets had to face a revitalised Evan Fjeld, as he began to sink them in. At first Luxol held out with Belin hoops, but later on a heavy 12-2 Floriana run had the Greens on level terms. Luxol forged forward again, with a couple of hoops.
Chris Sammut sank a further Floriana triple, taking his side to a point in arrears, at 49-50. The last period was a Luxol debacle. At first they kept pace with their adversaries, as the lead changed hands three times in a short while. From then on it was Floriana sailing on, first with a solid 12-0 run, shared out, and then a further 10-0 run, mostly from Fjeld. Late in the game Ross netted a brace of treys, for a more respectable scoreline for the Violets.
Luxol: CJ Cordina,10 M. Mercieca, 30 J. Belin, 8 A. Micallef Trigona, 15 L. Ross, A. Costa, 2 N. Vasovic, T. Paris, E. Caruana Montaldo, S. Cappello
Floriana: J. Curmi, 19 C. Sammut, 6 I. Mercieca, 14 S. Sammut.4 C. Calleja, A. Baldacchino, 31 E. Fjeld, A. Sultana, 4 M. Ciantar
Referees: G. Barbara, S. Gouder, C. Terribile
Athleta end group games with a win
Siggiewi 70
AZ Elect. Athleta 85
(29-23, 11-21, 13-27, 17-14)
Athleta consolidated their already assured top spot in the final table, with their eighth victory in ten games, against Siggiewi. They had to weather out the initial Siggiewi fury, but recovered in the second session, and pulled away after the break, to put the match out of Siggiewi’s reach. It was still a high score at both ends, as the two teams could end up facing each other in the semis of the playoffs.
Siggiewi had Peter Shopults making an appearance, although only on the bench, after his long injury layoof. The champions had their regular, latest, squad.
The two sides tested each other at first, with triples arriving soon after, from Athleta’s Steve Schembri and Alan Borg for Siggiewi.
The latter then recovered from a deficit, with a Louis Camilleri trey. There were then three ties in quick succession, before Siggiewi made up an 8-2 run, ending with a second Borg triple. Siggiewi held on to their advantage, with another 8-1 run, ending with Marco Matijevic points, and Athleta unable to make any headway.
They did that in the second session. A brace of hoops put them on their way. Matijevic replied for Siggiewi, but The Athleta triples began to find their way in. David Bugeja and Omar Said put them in at first, but Siggiewi tied the score again.
The champions responded with a 9-0 run, and a second Said triple. Siggiewi recovered till the interval, also with an Eman Xuereb trey, but Athleta still held a small 44-40 lead.
After the break Athleta’s first efforts had them on a better advantage, but Siggiewi rallied, to draw nearer once more. The champions then took the match in their hands, and, led by a strong Michael Naudi, they made up a solid 13-0 run, with Steve Schembri also providing a second triple.
Late in the session both teams put in more treys, with Karl Borg for Siggiewi and a third reply from Said, as athleta took a heavy 71-53 advantage. Siggiewi tried to stage a comeback, but their efforts, from Matijevic and Chris Meier, were replied to every time, by Dirk Schembri and Marco Todorovic.
Then it was Bugeja with a triple for the champions, with Siggiewi marking up a 9-0 run with another Alan Borg triple. His side was still at a distance, and the game petered out in Athleta’s favour, soon after.
Siggiewi: R. Agius, A. Cutajar, 8 L. Camilleri, 5 E. Xuereb, 12 A. Borg, 3 K. Borg, 17 C. Meier, C. Kodomaris, 25 M. Matijevic
Athleta: 21 M. Naudi, I. Buldakov, 8 D. Bugeja, 15 M. Todorovic, M. Giusti, 13 O. Said, 17 D. Schembri, 3 A. Bonnici, K. Baldacchino, 8 S. Schembri
Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, C. Terribile