AtoZ Elect. Athleta          76                              

Bupa Luxol                          68 

(18-14, 16-12, 17-23, 25-19)                  

 

For Athleta it was their second win in three matches over Luxol this season. They were following up on their K.O. success last week, as they edged past Floriana, to the top of the standings, though with a game more.

Athleta seemed in control at first, but Bupa came back in earnest, and went ahead in the final session, only to lose their American player on fouls. From then on Athleta were the better side.

Luxol were missing JP Bonnici and Andrew Micallef Trigona for this encounter.

The champions raced into a 7-0 advantage, before Bupa replied with a Nikola Vasovic triple. Athleta reacted with another 9-0 run, and a Steve Schembri trey, but this new lead was shortlived, as Luxol also netted a 9-0 run of their own, with another Vasovic triple, till the end of the session.

In the next period Athleta began with a Shawn Pace triple, and went on to a 9-2 run. Back came Luxol’s response, and it was a 10-0 run, ending with a Stephen Shackleford triple. They were just a point away, but the champions went to the interval with a 7-0 run, as Omar Said closed down the scoring with his trey, for a 34-26 score.

After the break Vasovic collected his third Luxol triple, but Athleta followed up with an 8-4 run, and a second Said trey, for a double figure advantage. Bupa rallied back till the end of the period, and managed two runs, at 7-0 and 7-2, so that when the last session began they were only a basket behind.

They fell further back, but then produced a 9-0 run, to take a nap hand advantage. The champions were stung, and Schembri free throws gave them back a lead, when Luxol lost Shackleford. An Adrian Micallef triple for Bupa was followed by an Athleta 7-0 run, and another Schembri trey. Luxol were still combative, as Micallef nailed a second triple, but Athleta’s last free throws settled the game in their favour.

Said finished with 16 points and Schembri with 13 for the champions. Bupa had Vasovic with 21 points and Shackleford with 13, before being fouled out.

Athleta:  S. Hagul , D. Bugeja 13, M. Todorovic 12, M. Giusti , O. Said 16, S. Pace 5, W. Spiteri , K. Baldacchino 11, S. Bischoff 4,  S. Schembri 15

Luxol: CJ Cardona 2, M. Merciaca 6, A. Micallef 16, J. Willoughby,S. Shackleford 13, JP Schembri , N. Vasovic 21, T. Paris 10, E. Bonello, S. Cappello

Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile, L. Camilleri