Luxol, Pembroke gear up for SF clash

On Sunday, BUPA Luxol and Pembroke got in tune for their best-of-five semi-final clash in the men's championship play-offs with victories over Depiro Kyocera and Hamrun Go Mobile respectively. Hamrun, the champions, start their series against Siggiewi Smina leading 1-0 after a one-win bonus for occupying first place at the end of the regular season.

Hamrun Go Mobile 68
Pembroke 79
(6-19, 24-12, 12-19, 26-29)

Pembroke completed their phase one commitments on a high after beating the champions in convincing style.

Hamrun had another slow opening and perhaps this was again their downfall as happened against Luxol in their previous match.

While Pembroke coach Joe Galea had a full squad at his disposal, Hamrun were without injured forward Karl Borg.

After a testing first five minutes for both sides, Pembroke started nosing ahead, profiting from Hamrun's confused tactics in attack. Pembroke led 19-6 after the first quarter but Alfred Mifsud, the Hamrun coach, then applied some changes and his substitutions worked.

Hamrun, with Steve Pace and Omar Said behind their team's surge, started to play better and until the half-time break they had reduced the gap to a single point - 31-30.

But Pembroke opened strongly after the interval to regain the upperhand and open an eight-point lead before the last quarter got underway - 50-42.

The last 10 minutes saw both sides notching points at a canter. However, the champions never got within striking distance of the Louis Borg Cup winners.

Jide Jetsen was sent off for Pembroke late on but Michael Naudi potted an impressive 30 points.

Hamrun: S. Pace 2, D. Camilleri, A. Spiteri 11, A. Borg 11, A. Portelli 2, O. Said 24, J. Jetsen 12, A. Bonnici 6, N. Falzon.

Pembroke: M. Naudi 30, J. Zammit 3, N. Lubrano, E. Bezzina 16, J. Galea, T. Riolo 4, C. Calleja, A. Micallef 10, D. Cuschieri 2, K. Baldacchino 12, J. Gatt 2.

Referees: B. Vassallo, C. Farrugia.

Bupa Luxol 80
Depiro Kyocera 51
(25-7, 23-17, 17-12, 15-15)

In their last game of the season, Depiro left several established players on the bench to give their upcoming youngsters some Kinnie League experience.

Luxol started very strongly and with an aggressive defence they dominated the first ten minutes to open a 25-7 lead.

Depiro came more into the picture in the last five minutes before half-time though Luxol still held a comfortable lead, 48-24 at the break.

Luxol took their foot off the accelerator after the break but they were still good enough to win the third session by five points.

Coach John Tabone introduced some new faces in the last session and that gave Depiro the chance to find more space to conclude their attacks. The last ten minutes ended even though with both sides potting 15 points each.

Luxol: C. Sammut 13, M. Mercieca 10, M. Micallef 1, M. Portera, C. Pulis, R. Dalli 7, D. Schembri 13, E. Caruana Montaldo 6, S. Cassar 13, S. Schembri 17.

Depiro: R. Vella 15, C. Cassar, C. Bugeja 2, G. Muscat 10, A. Aquilina, J. Vella 1, M. Ciantar, J.P. Azzopardi, E. Lupo 4, D. Ross 11, M. Mallia 8, D. Agius.

Referees: E. Mangani, G. Barbara.

Final standings: Hamrun 21 (9-3), Pembroke 20 (8-4), Luxol 19 (7-5), Siggiewi 16 (4-8), Depiro 14 (2-10).

Top scorers: M. Naudi (Pembroke) 218, S. Schembri (Luxol) 205, C. Sammut (Luxol) 196, S. Cassar (Luxol) 160, P. Shoults (Siggiewi) 159.

Semi-Finals: April 19 - (game 1) 7.45 p.m. Pembroke vs Luxol. April 23 - (game 2) 2.30 p.m. Luxol vs Pembroke; 4.15 p.m. Siggiewi vs Hamrun.