BOV National League – Men 1 Div.

Bupa Luxol     82     Remax Citadel Siggiewi     78

(19-28, 17-21, 24-13, 22-16)

Luxol won the verdict in the final stages of the match. Siggiewi seemed in control, and they enjoyed heavy advantages, but at the end it all went sour for them, as Luxol came back strongly, to surpass them at the death. Bupa did this under the guidance of Reuben Dalli, who took the place of regular coach, John Tabone, when he was ousted out of the match, in the second period. Siggiewi’s second place was placed in jeopardy with this defeat. Luxol recovered Adrian Micallef and Stefan Cappello, and Siggiewi had Alan Borg missing from their ranks.

Siggiewi went into an early lead, at 6-2, with Luxol coming back, with Michael Myers Keitt and Samuel Deguara points, to draw level. Siggiewi then were in command, making up an 8-2 run, mostly from Ivo Hoger, and later on another 8-2 run, with a Chris Meier triple. In the next session the Violets reduced their deficit, with a similar 8-2 run, but Siggiewi had a reply, with a 7-2 run, and a Steve Sammut trey. Myers Keitt netted a triple for Luxol, but then Tabone was ejected from the match, and free throwsby Lee oss and a Louis Camilleri triple, had Siggiewi on a solid 49-36 advantage at the interval.

After teh break Luxol opened up with Myers Keitt points, and continued to a 13-2 run, going just behind their opponents. When Luxol went level, there was Sammut with another trey for Siggiewi. Luxol remained close, and a Myers Keitt last second triple had them just 60-62 in arrears. In the last quarterSiggiewi were keeping their opponents at bay , with Hoger and Ross points, in answer to Deguara hoops. In the last stages of the encounter, with Siggiewi in command, the latter dried up, missing easy chances, and they paid dearly, as Bupa ended the game with a convincing 12-0 run, confirming Myers Keitt’s positive performance, along with Deguara, setting aside Hoger’s tally, which could have been better, had he taken his last occasions.

Luxol: CJ Cordina , M. Mercieca 3, A. Micallef 5, N. Andreevic , J. Willoughby ,

           JP Schembri 1, N. Vasovic 4, JP Bonnici , M. Myers Keitt 37,

           A. Micallef Trigona 2, S. Deguara 30, S. Cappello    

Siggiewi:  C. Meier 12, A. Debattista , S. Sammut 14,  E. Xuereb , L. Camilleri 5,

                L. Ross 16, JP Antoncic , I. Hoger 27, M. Mallia , M. Matijevic 4

Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile

Athleta finish in second position

AtoZ Electronics Athleta    86     Starlites Naxxar     59

 (20-19, 19-15, 24-12, 23-13)

With Siggiewi’s slip, in the game before, Athleta could lay claim to the second spot in the standings, with their fourth seasonal win over Starlites. Nothing really changed, as Athleta will still meet Siggiewi in the Play Off semis, and Depiro will face Luxol in the other matches. Athleta, once more opting to rest Chad Patus, for the coming games, had a bit of bother till the interval, mainly from their ex, Marco Todorovic, but then all went well for them, for the remainder of the encounter. Starlites will be playing in the Promotion Pool matches, with Floriana, and the first two second tier sides, Suns and Hibernians.

David Bugeja’s first hoops for Athleta had Starlites reacting , to go in front. Athleta then put in a 10-0 run, before Starlites could began to draw closer again. A session ending 8-2 run took them a point behind. In the second period Starlites kept on their surge, wth a 7-2 run, to forge ahead. Athleta finally responded, with a 7-0 run, and a Shawn Pace triple, to overturn the score. Starlites kept chasing their opponents closely, with Michael Naudi netting for Athleta, and Todorovic keeping Starlites in the hunt. At the interval Athleta were on a 39-34 advantage.

After the break Athleta began to draw away, with an early 8-4 run. This time there was no immediate Starlites reply, and Athleta made up another 12-2 run, with a brace of triples by Omar Said and another from Pace in between. With Athleta breaking clear, the score stood at 63-46. In the last session Athleta kept on increasing their lead. Todorovic continued to improve his large tally for Starlites, and Robert Bonnici sank a triple, but Athleta were way out in front, and they also managed to end the match on an 11-2 run, with a Steve Schembri trey.

Athleta: M. Naudi 28, M. Krastev , D. Bugeja 12, C. Patus , C. Galea , O. Said 12,

             S. Pace 6, K. Baldacchino 4, S. Bischoff 7,  S. Schembri 17

Starlites: M. Todorovic 40, R. Loporto 2, R. Bonnici 5, A. Schembri , S. Bonnici 4,        

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

Referees: E. Mangani, T. Helenius

                                           Final Standings

         Pavi Depiro                           10     8     2     778     681     18

         AtoZ Electronics Athleta       10     7     3     763     693     17

         Remax Citadel Siggiewi         10     7     3     697     633     16

         Bupa Luxol                           10     5     5     740     744     15

         Floriana Royce                      10     3     7     703     763     13

         Starlites Naxxar                     10     1     9     555     786     11