Hibs are now in top position

 

 

Report: Willie Vassallo

 

Photo: James Galea

 

 

Cynergi Depiro   67

Hibernians           82    

(22-29, 13-13, 16-17, 16-23)

 

The Paolites marked their fourth league win in six matches and given the outcome of the day's play they have now gone to the top spot. They were only briefly behind at the start but then they forged ahead and kept their advantage increasing it after the interval.

Depiro had American Lene Duckinson back in the side playing in the last stages when Dominic Scafidi was fouled out. Hibs had to make do without Roderick Vella still injured but they upgraded Italian Luca Tardito from the second tier of play and also recovered Simon Attard.

After Hibs' opening hoop Depiro jumped ahead with Scafidi points and a triple. The Paolites overturned the score as they made up a 9-2 run with an Alvaro Lizaur trey. Later on it was an 8-3 run with Andrew Aquilina netting a Depiro triple.

It was Lizaur Marco Matijevic and Chad Patus piling in the points for Hibs with Paul Attard nailing a late trey but Depiro were also consistent led by Scafidi.

In the second period play was more balanced. At first it was Depiro creeping back with an 8-1 run to tie the score. The Paolites responded quickly as Lizaur and Luke farrugia netted triples. They edged ahead once more to end the session 42-35 in front at the interval.

After the break, Depiro were still pressing their opponents. Aquilina sank a second trey but the Paolites' Lizaur with another triple and Matijwvic and Patus also put in triples. Kurt Xuereb sank a very late Depiro trey but Hibs were on a 59-51 advantage.

In the last quarter, Depiro tried to stay in contention but Hibs were adamant and Patus hammered in three more triples to put his side in a winning position. Depiro had Aquilina and David Bugeja netting more treys but Matijevic made his hoops and free shots to keep the Paolites well in front till the end of the encounter.

Depiro:  D. Bugeja 15, D. Camilleri, L. Duckinson, A. Aquilina 13, N. Grech 2, A. Attard, M. Mallia 5, K. Xuereb 9, M. Borg, D. Scafidi 23

Hibs: P. Attard 3, K. Sultana, L. Farrugia 6, S. Attard, I. Bonett, L. Tardito, A. Axiaq 2, M. Matijevic 24, A. Lizaur 22, F. Mariani,  C. Patus 25    

Referees: E. Mangani, T. Mantere, K. Dworniczak

 

 

Luxol share top spot

 

Gzira Athleta     69

Bupa Luxol                   76

(17-24, 13-10, 15-20, 24-22)

 

Athleta saw their unbeaten league run drop away after four matches with Luxol making amends for the league defeat by the same Athleta in the previous round of play.

Athleta were already preoccupied with the loss of skipper Michael Naudi and Francesco Mifsud Bonnici both nursing injuries. Ivan Mitrovic was roped in after missing two matches. He was tried out for a few seconds of play but he was still not match fit and went back to the bench.

Luxol sensed the opportune moment and spread their play on four fronts which paid dividends. They now have four wins in six matches and are only behind Hibs because of a direct encounter.

The Violets went into a 9-2 start as American Kyle Meyer sank a trey. At the other end it was left to Athleta's American Jon Feiler to obtain the points. all of them in the opening session including a triple.

Luxol had Meyer netting two more treys with Swedish William Ahlberg providing another one as their side opened up a first session advantage.

Luxol were still going well in the second period fractionally increasing their lead until Athleta came up with a 9-0 run and Omar said points with a triple which tied the score. Till the interval Luxol managed to net a brace of hoops to take a 34-30 halftime advantage.

After the break, Luxol stunned their opponents opening up in a rush and making up a solid 17-2 run as Ahlberg sank another triple. Here Meyer went on the bench being on three fouls but Athleta made the most of his absence as Feiler put in a personal 9-0 run.

Ahlberg stopped them with his third trey but Nathan Xuereb also netted an Athleta triple as the Violets went into the last quarter on a 54-45 lead.

Said and Xuereb put in triples to pull Athleta nearer but a 7-2 run had Luxol opening up their advantage again. It was then Athleta with an 8-2 run going quite close and kindling more hope but it was all in vain.

The champions stood firm and JP Schembri made all four of his free shots when Athleta tried to stop the clock with Luxol keeping their adversaries at arms' length.

Athleta: B. Zammit 2, P. Shoults 10, L. Stefanovic,  O. Said 10, S. Saakian, N. Xuereb 6,  S. Vincic, I. Mitrovic, J. Feiler 41      

Luxol: CJ Cordina 4, M. Sjoberg,  J. Melillo, N. Vasovic 23,  JP Schembri 6, K. Dimech 12, W. Ahlberg 17, K. Meyer 14, A. Micallef Trigona

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, T. Mantere, K. Dworniczak