Depiro Mtarfa 50

A to Z Elec. Athleta 90

(12-22, 15-23, 13-24, 10-21)

Athleta are just a game away from ensuring that the championship trophy stays with them for another year. Depiro were no match in this encounter as the champions took a firm hold and then Depiro were slipping further away from their adversaries with each resulting period of play.

There was no holding Athleta as they imposed their superiority over a demoralised side who always had an uphill battle on their hands.

Depiro still had Greg Hamlin out of contention after his surgery. Athleta had Michael Naudi on the injured list along with Kristin Baldacchino.

Athleta’s first two hoops of the match found Depiro with a ready reply and two baskets. The champions returned with an 8-2 run and an Omar Said triple along with Marco Todorovic points.

When Depiro went for more points to make up the leeway they were hit once more with another 8-0 run and two more Said treys when the champions went into a double figure advantage.

In the second period and after Athleta’s opening hoop, Depiro rallied back and put in a 7-2 run with Abraham Portelli points.

The champions were not worried and went about their business with a 9-2 run and a David Bugeja triple. Athleta did not stop there and a further 8-2 run with a second Bugeja trey had them way ahead.

Despite more Portelli points for Depiro, it was Athleta on a hefty 45-27 lead at the interval.

After the break, Athleta did not let up and Depiro had to bear the brunt of the champions’ attacks with a 10-3 run mostly from Todorovic. For Depiro, Portelli had a helping hand from Nigel Sultana to mark up a more respectable score.

At the other end it was still Todorovic with Dirk Schembri hoops and a fourth Said triple. Late in the period the champions also put in a 7-0 run so that they were on a solid 69-40 advantage after three sessions.

The last period of play followed the same pattern as before. Athleta drummed in an 11-4 run with Addison Bonnici free throws.

Depiro tried as best they could but the champions followed up with a 10-4 run with said getting a nap hand of triples to seal the match in Athleta’s favour.

The winning line is very much in sight now for Athleta.

Depiro: 4 R. Vella, JP Schembri, 12 N. Sultana,  A. Aquilina, 21 A. Portelli, 6 A.Micallef, 2 E. Lupo, 2 M. Mallia, 3 I. Tanti

Athleta:  3 I. Buldakov, 10 D. Bugeja, 22 M. Todorovic, M. Giusti, 8 A. fekete, 15 O. Said, 16 D. Schembri, 14 A. Bonnici, 2 S. Schembri 

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, C. Terribile