Gzira Athleta     78     Cynergi Depiro     67          

(17-19, 21-15, 16-15, 24-18)

Athleta had already beaten Depiro on six occasions, this season, and this time around they recorded another victory, but it was their toughest one yet, as Depiro refused to bow down, and stayed close to their opponents for nearly the whole encounter, with Athleta only assuring their win in the last stages of the match. Try as they did, Athleta never really shook off their adversaries, who played calmly, and answered back all the time. Athleta had Matthew Gouder back, but he remained on the bench, as did five other players. Depiro had David Camilleri and Nicholas Grech in their side, and also there was David Bugeja, after missing five games, through injury.

Athleta opened up with a brace of hoops, with Depiro doing the same, but the latter side then went on, to make up a solid 15-4 run, as Kurt Xuereb sank a triple, and Camilleri stuck in two more. Depiro's lead was cut down, in the remaining time, with Athleta putting in a 7-0 run, ending with a last second Michael Naudi triple. In the next period Athleta tied the score, but Depiro began with another Camilleri trey, only for Athleta's response, a 9-2 run, with Ivan Mitrovic and Francesco Mifsud Bonnici triples, taking them in front. Depiro regained their advantage, but Athleta's free shots obtained anotehr lead. Camilleri took Depiro nearer, with his fourth triple, but Athleta stretched their lead to a 38-34 score, at the interval.

After the break Athleta held on to their lead, until Bugeja and Andrew aquilina sank treys, to tie the score. Athleta came up with a 9-2 run, with Mitrovic free throws. Grech sank a Depiro triple, as Depiro were still close, at 49-54. In the last quarter Dominic Scafidi, for depiro, and Athleta's Peter Shoults netted treys. Athleta began edging away, and opened up a better advantage, as Shoults sank another trey. Another Depiro fling had Aquilina nailing a second triple, but gradually, Athleta began to forge further ahead, and, despite another Bugeja trey, Athleta made certain of their victory, as Mitrovic sank three more free shots, for a final score.

Athleta now need another victory, next Sunday, to advance to the final.

Athleta: M. Naudi 17, B. Zammit, K. Liivamagi, P. Shoults 13, L. Stefanovic, F. Mifsud Bonnici 8, O. Said 5, M. Gouder, N. Xuereb, S. Vincic, I. Mitrovic 14, J. Feiler 21 

Depiro: E. Briffa, D. Bugeja 8, D. Camilleri 14, J. Attard, A. Aquilina 11, N. Grech 5, A. Attard, M. Mallia 2, K. Xuereb 13, M. Borg, D. Scafidi 14  

Refeees: E. Mangani, N. Azzopardi, Z. Dobrosavljevic

 

Hibernians     83     Bupa Luxol     62

 (17-10, 20-22, 29-14, 17-16)

The Poalites were too good for Luxol, as they were for most of the games between these two sides, with Hibs emerging winners on eight occasions now, to the Violets' two. Luxol held out till the interval, but the Paolites then moved forward, and distanced themselves from their opponents, with Luxol trailing till the end of the encounter. Luxol had Dirk Schembri being roped in for theses semi-final ties, and Michael Sjoberg was also included, but Keith Dimech remained on the bench, victim of a very hectic season, for him.

Luxol were ahead on thre short occasions, at the start, with Hibs reacting to each of Luxol's hoops, until Roderick Vella sank a triple, and the Paolites raced in front, and remained there for the rest of the match. Luxol went nearer, but Alvaro Lizaur points, with a triple, had Hibs on a better advantage. In the second period Chad Patus began to insert himself more in the game, for the Paolites, but Luxol struck back, as Nikola Vasovic and Kyle Meyer sank triples. Patus also netted a Hibs trey, but the Violets were answering back, till the end of the session, with Hibs holding a small 37-32 advantage, at the interval.

After the break Luxol began to feel the pressure, as Hibs started with a poker of triples, two from Kizaur, and others by Patus and Vella. Luxol shortened their deficit, with the Paolites netting a 9-0 run, to leave their adversaries behind. Luxol reacted with free shots, but so did Lizaur, at the other end, and he also made a third triple, as his side went 66-46 ahead.  Hibs were in command, and although William Ahlberg finally began to find his scoring touch, for Luxol, netting as couple of triples, Hibs countered with a 12-0 run, and another lizaur trey. Later on, it was Luke Farrugia sinking a Hibs trey, with the Violets hiking up their score, till the final buzzer, making up a four-hoop spread, with Meyer claiming three, to finish up as the game's top scorer.

The Paolites, as Athleta, are only a game away from the final, and they could do this next Sunday.

Hibs: R. Vella 13, P. Attard, K. Sultana,  L. Farrugia 12, S. Attard , I. Bonett, L.Tardito, A. Axiaq 2, M. Matijevic 5, A. Lizaur 25, F. Mariani 1, C. Patus 25

Luxol: CJ Cordina, M. Sjoberg, N. Vasovic 10, J. Melillo, JP Schembri, K. Dimech, W. Ahlberg 12, D. Schembri 10, K. Meyer 28, A. Micallef Trigona 2

Referees: B. Vassallo, T. Mantere, K. Dworniczak