Gzira Athleta    86     Cynergi Depiro     79    

(12-29, 22-19, 24-14, 28-17)

Athleta went through a harrowing time, before clinching their place in the semis, where Luxol are awaiting them. Depiro started like a house on fire, and Athleta were overwhelmed, till the end of the opening period. A remarkable comeback ensued, as Athleta had to make do without Michael Naudi, who seemed to have injured his hamstring. Depiro held out till the start of the last quarter, but stayed close until the last stages, when Athleta's free shots decided the matter. There were individual performances at both ends which helped to increase the scoring at either basket. Athleta were without Ivan Mitrovic, still nursing his injured hand, and Francesco Mifsud Bonnici, injured in a second-tier encounter, in midweek. Depiro had Lene Duckinson absent, but recovered David Camilleri.

After Depiro's opening hoop Athleta put in a three-hoop spread, but so did Depiro afterwards. Athleta tied the score, with free throws, but then they were hit by a Depiro upsurge, as the latter side made up a staggering 21-4 run, till the end of the session, with Andrew Aquilina netting a trey, and Dominic Scafidi and Kurt Xuereb pouring in their hoops. In the second period Athleta began their way back, as Omar Said and Michael Naudi sank triples.

Xuereb netted a Depiro trey, but Athleta managed to cut down again on their deficit, as Jon Feiler dominated under the opposing ring, but then they lost Naudi, who went on the bench, and took no further part in the match. Xuereb kept on with his points, for Depiro, and Scafidi sank a triple, to open up their advantage once more, as they finished half of the match on a solid 48-34 advantage.

After the interval Athleta were in earnest, beginning with a heavy 13-2 run, and a peter Shoults trey, to creep close enough. Said's second trey had them a hoop behind, but Depiro pulled away again, with an 8-2 run. Shoults netted another Athleta triple, and in a thrilling end to the session it was Billy Zammit who sank a glorious triple, from near the halfway line, as his side were near once more, at 58-62.

In the last session Athleta finally managed to surpass their opponents, with a brace from Shoults. Camilleri responded immediately for Depiro, with his trey, but Athleta came back with a 7-0 run, and triples by Said and Zammit. Depiro reacted, by going a hoop behind, but Athleta made up another 7-0 run, with Shoults' fifth triple. Depiro made a last-ditch effort, which brought them an 8-2 run, ending with Xuereb and Camilleri treys, to go a triple in arrears. In the last seconds, as Depiro desperately tried to stop the clock, it was Said converting all four of his free throws, to settle the issue, and Athleta advanced to the semifinal stage

Athleta: M. Naudi 6, B. Zammit 10, P. Shoults 21, L. Stefanovic, O. Said 13, N. Xuereb 3, S. Vincic, J. Feiler 33     

Depiro: D. Bugeja 18, D. Camilleri 6, A. Aquilina 5, N. Grech, A. Attard, M. Mallia 2, K. Xuereb 23, M. Borg, D. Scafidi 25

Referees: B. Vassallo, Z. Dobrosavljevic, T. Mantere