Luxol hit 105 points, Compleet maintain perfect record

BUPA Luxol and arch-rivals Compleet IS SW recorded comfortable victories in the Powerade League to ensure a perfect build-up to their two-legged showdown in the Louis Borg Cup final. The first leg is scheduled for tomorrow with the second tie to be played on Sunday.

Qormi 60
BUPA Luxol 105
(8-26, 14-32, 21-14, 17-33)

BUPA Luxol notched 105 points in their win over Qormi but their delight was tarnished by the loss to injury of Serbian Marko Matijevic in the early stages of Sunday's match. Matijevic is ranked doubtful for the first leg of the Louis Borg Cup final tomorrow after hurting his ankle.

With forward Steve Schembri showing good form, Luxol scored the opening 12 points. After a time-out, Qormi improved but this was not enough to stop Luxol taking a 26-8 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Despite Matijevic's withdrawal, Luxol maintained their supremacy with Dirk Schembri causing Qormi all sorts of problems underneath the boards. Luxol changed ends 58-22 ahead.

With several substitutes on court, Luxol were unable to keep up their early momentum as Qormi, led by pivot Alex Tabone, held a slight edge in the third session which they won 21-14.

Coach John Tabone sent out most of his regular players for the final session and Luxol quickly regained their rhthym with youngster Nicolas Vasevic pushing the team past the 100-point mark after a fast break.

Earlier, Qormi had lost their best scorer Alex Tabone who was fouled out.

Qormi: J. Sant, A. Baldacchino 1, J. Anastasi 11, A. Debattista, A. Tabone 15, K. Borg 5, A. Axiaq 10, J. Dalli 4, A. Costa 10, S. Cauchi, C. Bugeja 4.

Luxol: R. Dalli, M. Mercieca 3, R. Azzopardi 8, M. Micallef 2, A. Borg 7, A. Portelli 9, N. Vasevic 4, T. Paris 2, D. Schembri 31, E. Caruana Montaldo 8, M. Matijevic 4, S. Schembri 27.

Referees: E. Mangani, J.P. Sammut, C. Terribile.

Compleet IS SW 87
Depiro 56
(22-15, 28-6, 14-25, 23-10)

After a slow start, leaders Compleet upped the tempo towards the end of the first session to knock the winds out of Depiro's sails.

Compleet were without playmaker Chris Sammut, injured, while Depiro only had eight players available for this match. To make matters worse for them, foreigner Sassoun Saakian was sick and pulled out towards the end of the first session.

A balanced start was met with a spate of substitutions by Compleet coach Joe Galea who also called a time-out.

Compleet began to press full court and with Depiro giving away possession on a number of occasions, the leaders ended the first session 22-15 ahead.

The second session was a different story as Compleet were in total control. With Depiro unable to add another point in the last five minutes, Compleet changed ends 50-21 in front.

After the interval, Depiro were a transformed side while Compleet failed to keep up the pressure. Depiro took advantage to narrow the gap to 15 points, 57-42, but missed freethrows allowed Compleet to hit back and start the last 10 minutes leading 64-46.

As the minutes ticked away, tiredness affected Depiro's game with Compleet capitalising to increase their advantage and extend their perfect start to five matches.

Compleet: M. Naudi 15, J. Naudi, D. Camilleri 7, E. Bezzina 8, J. Valdisere, O. Said 16, C. Calleja 2, A. Bonnici 11, K. Baldacchino 13, S. Cassar 15.

Depiro: R. Vella 17, D. Bugeja, I. Tanti 13, A. Aquilina 11, J. Gatt 2, S. Saakian 2, E. Lupo 6, D. Agius 5.

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani , A. Carbonaro.

Standings: Compleet (5-0) 10; Luxol (4-1) 9; Siġġiewi 6 (2-2); Depiro 6 (1-4); Qormi (0-5) 5.

Top scorers: S. Schembri (Luxol), D. Schembri (Luxol)120; M. Matijevic (Luxol) 76; O. Said (Compleet) 64; A. Micallef (Siġġiewi) 63.

Next fixtures: Louis Borg Cup final, first leg - tomorrow, 19.45 Luxol vs Compleet. Second leg - Sunday, 16.15.