Luxol oust holders Siggiewi

Siggiewi Smina 77
BUPA Luxol 83
(11-20, 27-20, 24-20, 15-23)

BUPA Luxol have set up a meeting with rivals Compleet IS SW in the final of the MBA Shield after knocking out holders Siggiewi Smina. In the other semi-final, Sliema were not troubled by Depiro. The final is scheduled to take place on November 25.

Siggiewi Smina 77
BUPA Luxol 83
(11-20, 27-20, 24-20, 15-23)

Luxol shattered Siggiewi's hopes of retaining the MBA Shield with an 83-77 win in a tense and exciting match.

The superior experience of the Luxol players was key to their victory last weekend.

For their part, Siggiewi's struggles to counter Luxol's pivots Dirk Schembri and Marko Matijevic proved to be their downfall. These two players contributed 48 points between them.

In delicate moments during the game, Siggiewi were further hampered by a lack of teamwork and the loss of playmakers Louis Camilleri and Peter Shoults, both fouled out in the last five minutes.

After a balanced start, Siggiewi coach Alex Farrugia replaced Abraham Portelli with veteran John Doughty. This move did not produce the desired effect as Schembri continued to dictate matters in offence while Siggiewi lost their attacking flair. Luxol took advantage to open a nine-point lead, 20-11, by the end of the first quarter.

Siggiewi made a strong start to the second session to reduce the deficit but every time they had the chance to level matters, they threw away possession.

Luxol kept their noses in front with a series of three-pointers but Siggiewi, profiting from the forced substitution of Matijevic who was on three fouls, fought back.

Seconds before half-time, there was an incident which changed the course of the match. The assistant referee whistled a foul in mid-court as Alan Borg and Shoults were chasing a loose ball.

This decision did not go down well with Siggiewi who were hit with a technical foul. Borg potted from the free-throw line to give Luxol a two-point lead at half-time, 40-38.

After the break, the game restarted with two free-throws in Luxol's favour who also had possession. In all, Luxol gained seven points from this episode.

Siggiewi charged back and with Matijevic on the bench, pivot Addison Bonnici seized the chance to put his side ahead, 52-49.

Siggiewi maintained a slight lead with five minutes to go but their performance dipped after they lost playmakers Camilleri and Shoults for five fouls.

Luxol turned the situation in their favour and two consecutive three-pointers by Robert Azzopardi pushed them 68-66 ahead.

Siggiewi toiled hard to get back in contention but a long-range shot by Matthew Bonnici and four consecutive baskets by Matijevic sealed victory for Luxol.

Siggiewi: B. Zammit, L. Camilleri 21, D. Camilleri 4, J. Doughty, A. Portelli 8, I. Mercieca, P. Shoults 6, J.P. Bonnici 6, A. Bonnici 28, J.P. Antoncich, I. Stefanovic 4, L. Camilleri.

Luxol: S. Mizzi, M. Mercieca 4, R. Azzopardi 13, M. Micallef, A. Borg 7, A. Bianchi, M. Bonnici 3, T. Paris, D. Schembri 24, E. Caruana Montaldo, M. Matijevic 24, S. Schembri 8.

Referees: B. Vassallo, A. Carbonaro.

Compleet IS SW 89
Depiro 50
(28-6, 13-19, 31-12, 17-13)

Depiro's enthusiasm was not enough to stop Sliema Wanderers, aka Pembroke, from enjoying a trouble-free passage to the final of the MBA Shield.

The match was won and lost in the opening quarter with Depiro unable to cope with their opponents' full-court press and attacking moves.

Compleet IS SW raced into a 17-3 lead by the fifth minute and ended the session 28-6 ahead.

Substitutions by both teams helped Depiro to step up their challenge and reduce the deficit by half-time, 41-25.

Depiro maintained their momentum after the interval but as they narrowed the gap to 13 points, 43-30, Compleet IS SW coach Joe Galea sent on his best players.

This move paid instant dividends as the Wanderers restored their early lead with Omar Said having a field day from the three- point line.

Starting the last session 72-37 ahead, the Wanderers easily dealt with Depiro's efforts to win the match with a massive 39-point margin.

Compleet IS SW: M. Naudi 19, J. Zammit 3, C. Calleja 2, E. Bezzina 2, J. Galea, T. Riolo 4, O. Said 27, A. Micallef 10, D. Cuschieri, S. Cassar 14, R. Mifsud 8.

Depiro: R. Vella 16, D, Debono , M. Sammut 2, G. Muscat, A. Aquilina, A. Tabone 6, M. Mallia 1, C. Cassar 4, E. Lupo 9, A. Costa 5, I. Tanti 4, D. Agius 3.

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani.

Next fixtures

Gatorade League: Friday, 7.45 p.m. - Floriana vs BUPA Luxol. Saturday, - 4.15 p.m. Mellieha SVS Reflections vs Compleet IS SW. Sunday, - 2.30 p.m. Siggiewi Smina vs Depiro.