BOV National League – Men 1 Div.
Floriana F. Fenech 77
AtoZ El. Athleta 70
(18-20, 21-18, 14-16, 24-16)
Floriana confirmed their sparkling form as they made the league double over Athleta - unheard of in these last seasons of play. It was a veritable display from both sides with flowing play which amply showed just what this wonderful game is all about.
It could have gone either way but Floriana’s better ending clinched the result.
The Greens did all this without the services of Bevan Scott - injured in midweek - leaving them with a short bench which didn’t hinder their intentions.
Athleta began with a couple of hoops and Floriana made a three basket spread. The champions then had Steve Schembri and Omar Said with triples as they opened a lead.
Matt Glass was then on hand for the Greens and his hoops along with david Camilleri’s trey helped their side to remain in close contact just a basket behind.
In the next period Floriana overturned the score but Athleta had Kristin Baldacchino with his trey and further points took the champions into a good advantage.
Camilleri netted a second Floriana triple but Athleta were still holding on to their lead. The last stages took Floriana ahead when they made up an 8-0 run to edge in front on a 39-38 score at the interval.
After the break, it was a ding dong affair with the lead changing hands a total of six times. This time it was Marco Todorovic getting the points for the champions with Floriana reacting with collective play.
Todorovic netted the session’s last points and Athleta were 54-53 in front. Athleta kept the Greens at bay for some time as Todorovic Shawn Pace and Schembri made their points.
Floriana were adamant and Glass and Chris Sammut kept pegging away. Late in the match Floriana made their breakthrough and it was Dirk schembri who potted the decisive points as his side first put in a three basket spread for a basket advantage then a final 7-0 run which lowered the champions’ colours.
Glass collected 27 points for the Greens with Schembri on 24 points and Sammut netting 14 more.
Athleta had Todorovic also with 27 points and Schembri finished with 19 points along with 11 from Pace.
Floriana: A. Baldacchino, D. Camilleri 9, M. Glass 27, C. Sammut 14, I. Mercieca 1, C. Calleja 2, D. Schembri 24, S. Saakian
Athleta: S. Hagul, D. Bugeja 3, M. Todorovic 27, M. Giusti, O. Said 3, S. Pace 11, W. Spiteri, K. Baldacchino 7, S. Bischoff, S. Schembri 19
Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, C. Terribile
Siggiewi 72
Tata Motors Loyola 55
(18-12, 17-14, 20-15, 17-14)
Siggiewi returned from three defeats to beat Loyola for the third time this season.
Loyola did not repeat their heroics against Luxol but Siggiewi are now back again in the fray for a place in the Championship Pool despite the fact that they presented only seven players for this encounter.
Clayton Agius and Jide Jetson were missing for Siggiewi while Loyola were without Jonathan Ransley.
Siggiewi started off with a 7-2 run which set the pace for the match with Loyola continually chasing their opponents but never making the overlap. It was Marco Matijevic leading Siggiewi at this stage with Loyola’s Dom Mazzocchi well marshalled leaving JP Azzopardi to lead the attack.
Siggiewi were in front and in the second period after some balanced play a three basket spread had Siggiewi in a better position.
Loyola also netted three hoops to draw closer but Siggiewi managed to end the session on a 7-2 run with Peter Shoults points to neutralise Mazzocchi’s tally.
At the interval Siggiewi were on a 35-26 advantage.
After the break another three basket run had Siggiewi edging away. Mazzocchi did all he could for Loyola but Siggiewi were uncompromising as Chris Meier and Alan Borg took them to a healthy 55-41 score with a session to play.
Early triples from Siggiewi by Borg and Eman Xuereb took the stuffing out of Loyola. Siggiewi kept on with another 8-2 run mainly from Matijevic before made a late rally with a 10-1 run which only served to make the final score more respectable.
Matijevic collected 21 points along with 15 from Meier 14 by Borg and 13 netted by Shoults for the winners. Loyola had Mazzocchi with 28 points but little else.
Siggiewi: N. Falzon 1, P. Shoults 13, E. Xuereb 4, A. Borg 14, C. Meier 15, A. Fekete 4, M. Matijevic 21
Loyola: I. Buldakov, B. Zammit 4, AJ Sarrio 5, C. Cassar 1, S. Borg , L. Azzopardi, S. Vella 8, A. Axiaq 2, JP Azzopardi 7, D. Mazzocchi 28
Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile, S. Gouder
Bupa Luxol 65
Pavi Depiro 69
(18-15, 19-14, 12-15, 16-25)
Both sides were coming from defeats but Depiro prevailed to give Luxol their third straight loss and also take an important step to make it into the Play Offs.
This was also Depiro’s third victory in three matches against their opponents. The Violets were good value till the third session but the last one was their undoing despite a last desperate flurry.
Depiro were without Emanuel Lupo for this match.
The teams were well matched in the opening session as they took turns to go in front in a total of seven times.
When finally Stephen Shackleford netted his triple for Bupa they held on to their advantage till the end of the period.
Depiro then made up a 7-0 run in the next session only for Luxol to reply with a 9-2 run and a Nikola Vasovic triple Depiro were just behind but the Violets then made up a late 8-2 run with a second Vasovic trey and at the interval they were enjoying a 37-29 advantage.
After the break, every Depiro hoop in the first minutes had a reaction from Luxol as they remained ahead on practically the same advantage as before.
That was until Shawn Morgan broke out for Depiro and their deficit was cut down to a 44-49 score with a session of play to go. Depiro were in full flight and a 10-3 run took them in front with a basket lead.
They went better after an Andrew Aquilina triple but JP Bonnici did the same at the other end and Luxol were ahead also with more Shackleford hoops. Depiro put in a 7-0 run by Morgan and Isaac Tanti.
With the Violets clawing back to a hoop deficit, Depiro held on by the skin of their teeth to take the victory and the third place in the standings.
Depiro’s Morgan totalled 30 points with Tanti on 19 points. Luxol had Shackleford on 23 points with Vasovic ending with 17 points.
Luxol: CJ Cardona, M. Mercieca 7, A. Micallef 9, J. Willoughby, S. Shackleford 23, JP Schembri 2, N. Vasovic 17, T. Paris, E. Bonello, A. Micallef Trigona, JP Bonnici 7, S. Cappello
Depiro: R. Vella 6, K. Kun, A. Aquilina 5, A. Portelli 7, D. Agius 2, M. Mallia, I. Tanti 19, S. Morgan 30
Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile, S. Gouder
Standings
After eight matches, Floriana Francesco Fenech and A-Z Electronics Athleta lead with 14 points each, PAVI Depiro and Siggiewi have 12, Bupa Luxol 11 and Tata Motors Loyola are at the bottom on nine points.