Pavi Depiro     89     Bupa Luxol     79

(19-25, 18-18, 13-16, 23-14) – (16-6)

This was a dour match, which could have gone either way in normal time, but Depiro’s Turrell Morris went on fire in overtime, and put his side in the semis, also finishing up as the game’s top scorer. Triples were not lacking in this encounter, with Turrell, again, grabbing six of them. Luxol led for long intervals, conceding only brief leads to Depiro, but they came a cropper in extra time, and were ousted out of the K.O. Bupa had Andrew Micallef Trigona missing.

At the start Depiro replied to Luxol’s opening hoops, but then the Violets made up a 9-0 run, with a JP Schembri trey. Depiro answered with a few points, and Luxol put in a further 10-0 run, with more triples from Michael Myers Keitt and Schembri. Depiro had a good ending to the period, with a 10-0 run, and treys by Turrell Morris and Andrew Aquilina. In the next session Luxol went further ahead, with an Adrian Micallef triple, but Depiro’s response was a good 11-0 run, ending with another Morris trey. Myers Keitt came up with personal points for Bupa, who were back in front, and a CJ Cordina trey helped them to a 43-37 advantage at the interval.

After the break the Violets were still pushing, and a 9-2 run, with a Myers Keitt triple, opened up a solid lead. Depiro’s next reply was answered back by Luxol, but then Depiro had the better ending to the session, with a 7-3 run, although Myers Keitt managed to sink another triple for Luxol, who were still on a 59-50 advantage. In the last quarter, and after another Luxol hoop, Depiro were back with a bang,. An 11-0 run, with two treys by Morris, and another from Aquilina, had them level. Schembri struck for Luxol, with a triple, but Anton Axiaq points had Depiro ahead. The lead changed hands five more times in the remaining time, as Schembri nailed another trey for Luxol, who were just ahead in the last six seconds, but Axiaq converted one out of two free throws, and the match went into overtime.

Myers Keitt again put Bupa in front, but then Morris took over with authority, and his two triples and a further two hoops, left Luxol staggering, and they had no suitable reply. Depiro could then control till the end of overtime, to think about their semi final encounter with Floriana.

Depiro: R. Vella 7, B. Zammit , N. Sultana 6, T. Morris 39, A. Aquilina 14,

A.     Portelli 8, S. Bartolo , A. Axiaq 10, E. Lupo ,  I. Tanti 5

Luxol: CJ Cordina 5, M. Mercieca 7, A. Micallef 15, C. Cassar , JP Schembri 14,

            N. Vasovic 6, T. Paris , M. Myers Keitt 32, J. Willoughby , JP Bonnici ,                 

            S. Cappello

Referees: E. Mangani, S. Micallef, S. Gouder

Starlites eliminate Siggiewi from another competition

Starlites     59     Remax Citadel Siggiewi     55

(11-6, 17-20, 16-18, 15-11)

Siggiewi were coming from a fine win over the reigning champions, Floriana, but they could have underestimated their opponents, who had already ousted them out of the Shield. Starlites had nothing to lose in this match, and they played with determination, and stayed close to their adversaries, when they were behind. Siggiewi were never at ease, and there was too much hurry in their last shots, as they sought to make up the small deficit they had. It was no use, and Starlites now meet Athleta in the semi final. Siggiewi recovered Marco Matijevic, but Clement Kodomaris seems to have severed his ties with Siggiewi.

Both sides were sizing up their opponents for a long period, before Starlites went ahead, agetr a barren first minutes. Siggiewi ttok more than six minutes to reply, and them went in front. Starlites’ response brought abput a 7-0 run, and a Robert Bonnici trey, for an opening session advantage.Siggiewi were further back in the next period, as Starlites made up an 8-3 run, and a Chris Sammut triple for Siggiewi. The latter side then came up with a 9-0 run, to overturn the score. Starlites regained their lead, with a 9-2 run, and another Bonnici trey. Siggiewi reduced their arrears, but they were 26-28 behibd at the interval.

After the break Siggiewi first went ahead, and when Starlites tried to recuperate, a 7-2 run, with a Steve Sammut trey, took them to a better lead. When changes on court were made by Siggiewi, they commited turnovers, and Starlites promptly took their cue, and made up a 10-0 run, mostly from Marco Todorovic. This new advantage was shortlived, as Siggiewi had the Sammut brothers with treys, and the session ended on a tie, at 44-44. The last quarter had Siggiewi ahead, then Starlites in front, and Siggiewi back level. Bonnici netted his third triple, as Starlites eked out another advantage. When Siggiewi went close Starlites opened up their lead again. Siggiewi frantically tried to make up the leeway, but they hurried their shots, and Starlites took the resulting rebounds, to keep their noses in front, and record their second victory in three matches over their opponents.

Starlites: M. Todorovic 18, R. Loporto 5, R. Bonnici 19, A. Schembri , S. Bonnici 10,         

               J. Curmi , A. Cutajar , G. Szokreny 2, B. Soler 1, G. Coleiro 4, M. Vassallo

 Siggiewi:  C. Doublet , A. Debattista , S. Sammut 6,  C. Sammut 14, N. Falzon ,

                  L. Camilleri 3, A. Borg 2, L. Ross 11, JP Antoncic , I. Hoeger 13,

                  M. Mallia , M. Matijevic 6

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, T. Helenius