Tata Motors Loyola         58    

AtoZ Electronics Athleta        67

 (15-16, 12-18, 18-17, 13-16)

 The champions put their Louis Borg Cup setback behind them, and recorded their fourth seasonal victory over Loyola. The latter side, however, put up a spirited resistance, and were still close in the latter stages of the match, even though they had to spend nearly the whole encounter chasing their opponents.

Loyola had a change of mentor, with Alfred Mifsud going to Siggiewi. They were led by their second in command, Joe Zammit. Athleta had Kristin Baldacchino just a spectator for the match.

Athleta went into a 7-1 lead, with a Steve Schembri triple. Loyola reacted, to go ahead for the only time in the game, with a 9-2 run, and a Billy Zammit trey. The champions were ahead again, with an Omar Said triple, but Zammit netted another Loyola trey, though they still went just a point behind. In the second period Athleta increased their advantage, with a 9-2 run, and a Shawn Pace trey. Dom Mazzocchi was replying for Loyola, but Pace sank a second triple, as his side held on to their lead until the interval, when they were on a 34-27 favourable score.

After the break Loyola went on level terms with a 7-0 run, and a Mazzocchi trey. The champions regained their advantage, with Mazzocchi again making a triple. Athleta then managed a 9-4 run, with a second Said trey, to lead 51-45. Loyola went nearer in the last session, but David Bugeja netted an athleta triple, for a double figure advantage. It was Mazzocchi once more with a trey for Loyola, as they clawed their way back into contention, but the end of the game went in Athleta’s favour, with a 7-2 run, which kept them just enough away from their adversaries.

Schembri made 19 points for Athleta, with Bugeja on 18 points and Said with 14 more. Loyola’s Mazzocchi had a total of 29 points, and Anton Axiaq contributed with 13 points.

Loyola: I. Buldakov , B. Zammit 8, AJ Sarrio , C. Cassar 2, S. Borg, L. Azzopardi, S. Vella 2, A. Axiaq 13, JP Azzopardi 4,  J. Ransley , D. Mazzocchi  29          

Athleta:  D. Bugeja 18, M. Todorovic 8, M. Giusti , S. Hagul , O. Said 14, S. Pace 8,  W. Spiteri , S. Bischoff ,   S. Schembri 19

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

Floriana just short of a century of points

Floriana Fran. Fenech                     98

Bupa Luxol          81

(34-28, 18-22, 18-17, 28-14)

The Greens nearly repeated their century, as in their last league encounter, but fell just short of a basket. Floriana are now in the second spot in the standings, and aiming high. A collective effort brought about good personal scores for a handful of players, with Bupa having the top scorer of the match , but to no avail.

Luxol had their new signing on show, Adrian Micallef, but he had a quiet match.

The Violets went 7-2 ahead, with a Stephen Shackleford triple, with Floriana reacting with a a 9-0 run, and a Chris Sammut trey. Another 7-2 Luxol run, with a Nikola vasovic triple, gave them another lead, but then the score was tied on four occasions, with more triple, Bevan Scott Camilleri and David Camilleri for the Greens, and Vasovic again for Luxol. Floriana went in front, and held on, as Camilleri netted a last second trey, for a better advantage. In the next period Florianaheld on to their lead, but two Bupa triples, from JP Schembri and Shackleford, brought them level. Flroiana’s next lead was wiped off with Luxol free throws, but at the interval it was the Greens just ahead, at 52-50.

After the break Luxol lost no time to forge ahead, with Shackleford and Vasovic treys. Floriana replied with a 9-0 run, and another Camilleri triple. This lead lasted until Shackleford brought both sides level once more, but when the last session beganh the Greens were 70-67 in front. The rest of the game did not bode well for Bupa, as Floriana made an 11-2 run, with a fourth Camilleri triple. Shackleford and Vasovic made more points for Luxol, the latter also with a further two treys, but a late 10-0 run put the issue beyond doubt for the Greens, as they went above three teams in the standings.

Matt Glass put in 30 points, along with 20 points from Dirk Schembri 16 from Camilleri and 15 from Sammut, for Floriana. Shackleford poured in 47 points for Luxol, and Vasovic helped with 21 more points.

Floriana: A. Baldacchino , B. Scott Camilleri 13,  D. Camilleri 16, M. Glass 30,  C. Sammut 15, I. Mercieca , C. Calleja 4, D. Schembri 20, S. Saakian

Luxol: CJ Cardona , M. Merciaca 2, A. Micallef  4, S. Shackleford 47, JP Schembri 5,  N. Vasovic 21, T. Paris , A. Micallef Trigona , JP Bonnici 2, S. Cappello

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