Starlites     69     Floriana Royce     65

(16-19, 19-16, 18-15, 16-15)

 

After a run of five consecutive defeats, Starlites managed to record their first league victory, at the expense of the champions. Floriana have not managed a single win after the departure of their coach, Paul Ferrante, and his counterpart, Christoph Stolp, is still awaiting his first win, after three matches. It was a ding dong encounter, with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions. Starlites had a matchwinner in Marco todorovic, as he poured in a deluge of points. The Greens had their moments with their triples, and also enjoyed good advantages, but Starlites always found means to drag themselves back. Starlites had just the one absentee, Mark Vassallo, with the same on the other side, as Sassoun Saakian was missing.

Floriana’s opening hoop brought a reply for Starlites, with a pair of hoops, but the champions made up a 9-0 run, with treys by Peter Shoults and Derek Elston. Todorovic put in a couple of hoops for Starlites, but Floriana were on a good lead, until a three basket spreas had Starlites drawing closer. In the next period Starlites tied the score, but the Greens made up an 8-2 run, with treys from Elston and David Camilleri, and later on Camilleri added another triple. Starlites’ reaction was a 9-2 run, with a saviour Bonnici trey, as they forged in front. Floriana were level at the interval, with another Elston triple, and a 35-35 tie.

After the break Camilleri and Elston netted further treys for the champions, but Todorovic was always on hand, and Starlites were not far off. An 8-0 run pushed Starlites ahead, and although the Greens made their points, Starlites held on to their advantage, on a slight 53-50 score. In the last quarter Billy Zammit sank a Floriana triple, but Starlites always managed to edge in front, though Floriana tied the score on three occasions. The Greens could fing no answer to Todorovic, and his points, as they vainly tried to make up a small leeway, which eluded them till the end. Floriana are now in a precarious position of missing out in the Play Offs.

Starlites: M. Todorovic 39, R. Loporto 4, R. Bonnici 13, A. Schembri , S. Bonnici 9,        

J. Curmi , A. Cutajar , B. Soler , J. Zammit , G. Coleiro 4

 Floriana: O. Shamala , D. Elston 18, D. Camilleri 9, P. Shoults 9, S. Borg ,

          B. Zammit 3, C. Calleja 12,  D. Schembri 6,  D. Agius 8

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, C. Terribile