Floriana MCP Car Parks     69     Bupa Luxol     80    

(18-17, 12-17, 10-25, 29-21)

It was Floriana's first match in theis group, whilst the Violets had already beaten Athleta previously. Floriana started well, and were ahead on more than one occasion. At the interval they were behind, but close. After the break Luxol exerted their pressure, to forge ahead, and establish a good advantage. Floriana were left chasing their adversaries, to no avail, as Luxol 's lead was a winning one till the end of the encounter. Floriana were missing David Camilleri and Clayton Calleja, the latter being abroad. They had a new Spaniard, Ignacio Arias, who will be active in the next transfer window, and are awaiting the arrival of a new American. Luxol had Keith Dimech just a spectator and Edward Bonello absent, but Marco Mercieca came out of retirement, after a couple of idle seasons.

Floriana were ahead at the start, on a 7-3 lead, mostly from David Bugeja, with Luxol nosing ahead, with a brace of the Swede, William Ahlberg, triples. Kurt Xuereb made a personal three hoop spread, with the lead changing hands twice more, till the end of the session. In the next period a 7-0 Luxol run, with a JP Schembri trey, turned the score around. More Xuereb hoops had Floriana just a hoop behind, but the Violets had the Serbian, Vukasin Jandric, with a triple, extending their advantage. Floriana were back, with Bugeja points and a Xuereb trey, when Mercieca stepped back on court, for Luxol. At the interval his side were on a small 34-30 advantage.

After the break the tide turned decisively in Luxol's favour. At first Floriana held on, but as time passed the Violets netted their triples, from Ahlberg, Jandric and Schembri, and although Shawn Pace also netted a Floriana trey, more Luxol points had them on a heavy 59-40 advantage. The last quarter saw Luxol keeping command of the match. Floriana played in bursts, as the Estonian, Kevin Liivamagi, sank a triple. So did Ahlberg, for the Violets. Not to be outdone, Liivamage netted a couple more treys, but Luxol still held a handsome lead. Bugeja had a good ending to the match, for Floriana, making their last points, but Luxol were already home and dry, planning for the upcoming semis.

Floriana: S. Pace 5, D. Bugeja 19, T. Grech, S. Borg 2, K. Caruana, K. Liivamagi 12, K. Xuereb 24, G. Hulsen 5, D. Agius 2

Luxol: CJ Cordina 4, V. Jandric 18, L. Caruana Montaldo, JP Schembri 8, W. Ahlberg 26, M. Mercieca 2, D. Schembri 11, S. Cappello 11

Referees: B. Vassallo, T. Mantere, S. Micallef