BOV National League – Men 1 Div.
Remax Citadel Siggiewi 60 Pavi Depiro 71
(18-19, 14-16, 10-17, 18-19)
Depiro did not let the occasion pass by, and they are now gracing the top of the table by themselves. They had to contend with Ivo Hoger’s height, but their new foreigner, Australian, Matthew Adekponya, made a blistering start for them, on his debut. It was touch and go till late in the thris quarter, but then Depiro broke forward, and Siggiewi could never get close enough, to overturn the score. Depiro ended the match to their liking, as they did, the week before, against Floriana, with long possession, denying the ball to their opponents, and netting their free throws. Siggiewi had Louis Camilleri back from abroad, and Depiro had to make do without Nigel Sultana, on his studies.
Siggiewi twice replied to Depiro’s first points, before going ahead, with a three basket spread. Depiro began to reply to Hoger’s constant points, and Andrew Aquilina netted a triple. Siggiewi were in front. Late in teh period, but Adekponya sank a last second trey for Depiro. In teh second session Hoger put Siggiewi ahead once more, but Adekponya was still a menace, and an 8-0 Hepiro run, with the Australian’s second trey, overturned the score. Siggiewi netted a pair of hoops, but Depiro were back ahead, and at the interval were leading on a 35-32 score.
After the break Hoger had Siggiewi just behing their opponents, but Adekponya nailed another triple. Hoger was still keeping Siggiewi close, until Depiro put in another 8-0 run, this time mainly from Anton Axiaq, and Depiro went into the last quarter on a better 52-42 advantage. Another Australian trey fired Depiro up, and Siggiewi had a hard road to climb. Lee ross added on Siggiewi points, but Aquilina also netted a Depiro Depiro trey, leaving Siggiewi at a distance. Free throws ensured Depiro’s victory, with Siggiewi getting nearer at the end, but to no avail.
Siggiewi: C. Meier 2, C. Sammut 2, S. Sammut 4, E. Xuereb , L. Camilleri ,
A. Borg 3, L. Ross 17, JP Antoncic , I. Hoeger 28, M. Mallia , M. Matijevic
Depiro: R. Vella 7, M. Adekponya 33 , A. Aquilina 10, A. Portelli 4, S. Bartolo 4,
A. Axiaq 11, E. Lupo , I. Tanti 2. M. Agius
Referees: G. Barbara, S. Gouder, T. Helenius
Harrowing defeat for Athleta
AtoZ Electronics Athleta 63 Bupa Luxol 92
(8-21, 17-19, 18-21, 20-31)
It’s a rare sight to see Athleta struggling, but that’s what they did against Luxol, as the twin prongs of Michael Myers Keitt, and the towering Samuel Deguara, played havoc with Athleta’s defence. A forceful Bupa start set the pace for the match, and after a flurry in the second period, Athleta fell behind once more, and they just couldn’t get back. Luxol controlled the proceedings, and when CJ Cordina hit top form, it was curtains for Athleta, who had to apply damage control, to evade a worse scenario. Athleta recalled Kristin Baldacchino, who made his first start of the season, and Luxol included young Nikola Andreevic in their ranks.
It was nearly all Bupa at the start, with Athleta once replying with a Steve Schembri triple, his only scoring contribution in the game. Luxol’s pair of Myers Keitt and deguara were alternating with their hoops, going on to an 18-3 score. Omar Said netted an Athleta triple, but Keitt replied in like manner, as the Violets ended the session riding high. Athleta began the next period well, and they stopped Luxol in their tracks for a while. A 12-2 run, with two treys by Chad Patus, and a second by Said, had Athleta within striking distance. JP Schembri netted a Luxol triple, and the Violets were on normal service once more. A session ending 10-2 run, with late Schembri and Myers Leitt triples, had Luxol comfortable on a 40-25 advantage at the interval.
After the break Athleta began their arduous way back again, as Said sank a third triple, but the Luxol duo were unforgiving, and a 12-0 runleft Athleta way behind. They made up some free throws, but Luxol were going into the last quarter on a heavy 61-43 advantage. Athleta managed a quick brace of hoops, , but Cordina then began to put in his points for Bupa, and a 16-0 run, followed by a further Cordina trey, put the seal on Luxol’s victory. There was still time, and Athleta put in a 9-0 run, mainly from Michael Naudi, and a Patus triple. Luxol’s free throws enhanced their lead again, as they finished on a high score victory.
Athleta: M. Naudi 19, D. Bugeja 4, C. Patus 18, C. Galea , W. Spiteri , O. Said 13,
S. Pace 2, D. Ross , K. Baldacchino 2, S. Bischoff 2, S. Schembri 3
Luxol: CJ Cordina 15, M. Mercieca 2, A. Micallef , N. Aanreevic , J. Willoughby ,
JP Schembri 9, N. Vasovic , JP Bonnici , M. Myers Keitt 37,
A. Micallef Trigona , S. Deguara 29, S. Cappello
Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, C. Terribile
Standings
Pavi Depiro 6 5 1 445 377 11 AtoZ AtoZ Electronics Athleta 6 4 2 450 424 10
Remax Citadel Siggiewi 6 3 3 385 367 9
Bupa Luxol 6 3 3 454 427 9
Floriana Royce 6 2 4 413 435 8
Starlites 6 1 5 349 466 7