AtoZ El. Athleta 62

Siggiewi                48

(20-8, 6-14, 14-14, 22-12)

 Athleta took a good lead with them to yesterday’s second encounter between these two teams thanks to a late burst which had Siggiewi sliding back and having their work cut out in the next game.

Siggiewi made two steady replies which had them back in contention after Athleta had opened up a wide gap as is their wont.

Athleta had David Bugeja preparing to get back into action in the near future. Siggiewi recovered Clayton Agius and Jide Jetson made his first appearance this season.

The champions started with a 7-2 lead with Siggiewi unable to get to grips and a late 9-2 run propelled Athleta further ahead after the opening session.

The champions then experienced difficulty in obtaining more points and were barren for more than seven minutes. In the meantime Siggiewi put together a 10-0 run with a brace of Alan Borg triples cutting down on their heavy deficit.

Athleta recovered but they could only marginally extend their advantage till the interval when they were leading 26-22.

The match was still a balanced one after the break with Siggiewi going ahead briefly for the only time in the match.

The champions responded with triples from Omar Said and Steve Schembri but their original advantage did not increase and at the start of the last period the score stood at 40-36.

Schembri went on with his points and Athleta edged further away but a third Borg trey had Siggiewi close once more.

Athleta took further action with an 8-0 run which had them in command.

Siggiewi’s last efforts did not produce results and the champions could hold on to their solid lead to take into yesterday’s second match.

Schembri netted 19 points for Athleta along with 15 from Said and 13 from Marco Todorovic.

Siggiewi had Chris Meier with 16 points and Borg with 13 more.

Athleta: M. Krastev, M. Gauci Montaldo, M. Todorovic 13, M. Giusti, S. Hagul, O. Said 15, S. Pace 7, K. Baldacchino 8, S. Schembri 19

Siggiewi: R. Agius, P. Shoults 8, E. Xuereb, C. Agius, A. Borg 13, C. Meier 16, A. Fekete 2, J. Jetson,  M. Matijevic 9

Referees: E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro, S. Gouder

Game 2 Result:

AtoZ El. Athleta 68

Siggiewi                70

(Ag:  130-118)

Superior ending gives Depiro a resounding victory

Pavi Depiro         91

Floriana Francesco Fenech           73

(23-25, 22-18, 21-16, 25-14)

Depiro go into the second encounter resting on a handsome advantage which came about in the last stages of the game when Floriana seemed to forget that these matches come in a packet of two games.

The Greens traded punches till after the interval but then they had difficulty in stopping Shawn Morgan with the Greens’ Phillip Thomas on four fouls.

Depiro were without Nigel Sultana and Mark Ciantar was missing for Floriana.

After an early double hoop for Depiro, the Greens took over and registered a solid 13-0 run.

Depiro’s reaction wasn’t that hot and Thomas kept on with his points as Floriana held on to their lead. Depiro then recovered with a 10-0 run with Morgan points and a Roderick Vella triple.

Floriana regained their advantage which they held.

In the next period all of Depiro’s efforts only took them to just behind their adversaries until midway through the session when an 11-2 Depiro run, with another Vella trey, established a lead. The Greens came back but they were trailing 43-45 at the interval.

The start of play after the break found Depiro better prepared and Vella’s third triple, along with more Morgan points, took Depiro to a healthier advantage.

Floriana reacted slightly as David Camilleri nailed a trey, but after three sessions it was still Depiro ahead on a 66-59 score.

The Greens were back in the last session with a Chris Sammut trey and another David Camilleri triple had them nearer to an overhaul of the score.

They were then hit with fast breaks and a sound 13-2 run with two Andrew Aquilina treys and another from David Agius leaving the Greens reeling. The die was cast and Depiro established a heavy lead going into yesterday’s encounter.

Depiro’s Morgan garnered a total of 36 points with Vella on 17 points and Isaac Tanti netting 12 more. Floriana had Thomas on a stormy 39 point tally and Chris Sammut made 12 more points.

Depiro:  R. Vella 17, A. Aquilina 11, A. Portelli 4, D. Agius 9, E. Lupo, M. Mallia 2, I. Tanti 12, S. Morgan 36

Floriana: B. Camilleri 2, D. Camilleri 6, C. Sammut 12, I. Mercieca, S. Sammut 4, C. Calleja 2, D. Schembri 9, P. Thomas 39,  S. Saakian

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro

Game 2 Result:

Pavi Depiro         71

Floriana Francesco Fenech           77

(Ag:  162-150)