Gzira Athleta      40

Caffe Moak Luxol     73

(9-12, 5-29, 16-11, 10-21)

Willie Vassallo

The new look Luxol outfit, now sporting their traditional violet garb, had no worries against an inconsistent Athleta side who are a pale shadow of the team that started the season by winning two honours.

Luxol's duo Christina Grima and American Maria Brown have injected the necessary drive into the team which was so lacking earlier on in the season.

Athleta have now been eliminated in two successive competitions while Luxol can now chase the remaining two honours after faltering in the other three.

Athleta recovered Beverlee Zammit playing her first match this year but lost American Amelia Simmons who only played in the opening session but remained on the bench for the rest of the encounter.

Luxol had Monique Caruana on the island and she was included. There have now been four matches between these two sides with the honours even with two victories each.

There was a slow start to the match as the Violets went ahead and after seeing Athleta tie the score Luxol were again in front and stayed there for the rest of the match. An 8-2 run had the champions opening up another advantage but at this stage it was Simmons grabbing all of Athleta's points taking her side just a point behind before Luxol had Grima with the last hoop of the session.

In the second period, it was disaster for Athleta less Simmons. Brown began to make her presence felt for the champions as Luxol made a good 12-2 run.

Zammit went on court for Athleta and sank her triple but Luxol were on their way once more this time making up a long 17-0 run with more Brown points and a triple.

Sarah Pace also netted a trey and Grima provided more points for Luxol who went in at the interval on a heavy 41-14 advantage.

After the break, Luxol began by extending their lead with Christina Curmi hoops.

The Luxol coach Chris Stolp began to put in his bench players and Athleta could made a little impact with a 10-2 run and triples from Antoinette Borg and Zammit.

Luxol managed to stop the reduced deficit and ended the session on a 52-30 score.

The last quarter had the champions once more in a dominant mood with a 10-3 run and Curmi and Brown points.

Athleta managed to share the play for some time but it was Luxol ending the match on a good note with a 7-1 run to ease their way into the semis where they will meet Starlites who are riding high in the league standings.

Athleta:  B. Zammit 6, L. Duncan 8, A. Simmons 9, D. Said Hollier 4, A. Borg 11, J. Schembri, S. Vella, E. Pace,  C. Mifsud 2

Luxol: S. Pace 3, M. Caruana, Ni. Vella 1, I. Baena Medina 1, No. Vella, C. Grima 20, K. Portelli, L. Caruana Montaldo 2, C. Sollami 6, M. Darmanin 2, C. Curmi 11