Basketball

Louis Borg Cup Men – Semi Final 1

Bupa Luxol     80     Floriana Royce     57 

(19-19, 25-9, 17-18, 19-11)

Luxol are passing through a very bright patch, with the champions being their latest victims. They managed a favourable result, which should help them to overcome their opponents in the second encounter, and make their way into the final. Floriana’s tale of woe continues, with their sixth straight defeat this year, and the horizon doesn’t look too bright for them. Bupa’s twin enforcers continue to pile up the points, with Samuel Deguara making a triple double in the game.

Luxol had Nikola Vasovic with a triple, as they began with a 9-4 run. . The Greens made their way back, to a point behind, but a 7-2 run, with Michael Myers Keitt points, put the Violets on a better lead. Floriana came up with a 7-0 run, mianly from Dirk Schembri, to go in front, but Luxol were tied with their opponents at teh end of the period. An 8-2 Luxol run had them in front in the second session. Then it was the champions with a 7-2 run, and a Billy Zammit trey, to catch up, but till the rest of the session it was all Luxol, who put in a solid 15-0 run, as Myers Keitt continued with his points. At the interval Luxol were 44-28 ahead.

After the break the Greens began their long haul back, with an 8-2 run, from Schembri. Luxol repeated the same dose, to restore their advantage, with Deguara more into the action. Floriana still had Schembri to acquire their hoops, but Luxol were still in control, to end the session on a steady 61-46 advantage. In the alst quarter Bupa made doubly sure with an opening 10-3 run, from Deguara and Myers Keitt, and Derek Elston netting a Floriana trey. Schembri had more personal points for the champions, but Luxol made up a further 9-2 run, to end the match on a winning margin for the next game.

Luxol: CJ Cordina , M. Mercieca 2, A. Micallef , N. Andreevic , J. Willoughby ,

           JP Schembri 6, N. Vasovic 13, JP Bonnici 1, M. Myers Keitt 24,

           A. Micallef Trigona , S. Deguara 24, S. Cappello

Floriana: O. Shamala , D. Elston 13, D. Camilleri , P. Shoults 1, S. Borg ,

          B. Zammit 5, C. Calleja 6,  D. Schembri 30,  D. Agius 2

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, C. Terribile

Match is still undecided, with slight Athelta advantage

AtoZ Electronics Athleta     82     Remax Citadel Siggiewi     77

(12-22, 24-17, 24-18, 22-20)

This was a nervous match, with both teams highly strung up. There is all to play for in the next encounter, with Athleta resting on a slight advantage, after they had to survive a strong Siggiewi start, which however petered out when the Athleta players began to press their opponents. Siggiewi committed too many turnovers, and paid the price, as Athleta grew in confidence, and managed to eke out a victory.

Athleta took the first lead, on an 8-4 score, but Marco matijevic points had Siggiewi ahead soon after. Athleta twice came near, but it was Siggiewi with the better ending to the session, and a 7-0 run, for a double figure advantage. In teh next period it was still Siggiewi extending theri lead. Steve Schembri netted an Athleta triple, and Michael naudi came up with more points, but at the opther end Ivo Hoger began to dominate the paint, and Siggiewi restored their advantage. Then came the passing mistake, and Athleta were back in contention, endin on a 9-2 run, with an Omar Said trey. At the interval Siggiewi’s lead had gone down to a 39-36 score.

After the break Siggiewi held their own at first, and a couple of Steve Sammut triples opned up their advantage, despite Chad Patus points for athlete. The latter side then had Patus also with a trey, and Siggiewi had to suffer an Athleta 9-0 run, which took them in front. It was then Siggiewi to chase, and with a session to go, they were 57-60 in arrears. Siggiewi were right behing Athleta, with more Hoger hoops, but Athleta managed a 7-0 run, with another Said triple. Lee Ross points brought Siggiewi back, but Athleta edged their opponents out, and Schembri made more points, and a second trey, to open up Athleta’s advantage. Siggiewi crawled back nearer, with Athleta holding out till the end, taking a small lead with them into the second encounter.

Athleta: M. Naudi 14, D. Bugeja 6, C. Patus 28, C. Galea , W. Spiteri ,

             O. Said 14, S. Pace 5, D. Ross , K. Baldacchino 3,  S. Schembri 12

Siggiewi:  C. Meier 12, A. Debattista , C. Sammut 11, S. Sammut 4,  E. Xuereb ,

                 L. Camilleri , A. Borg , L. Ross 12, JP Antoncic , I. Hoger 28,

                M. Mallia , M. Matijevic 10

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