Last-gasp three-pointer puts Luxol in driving seat

Compleet IS Athleta 70
BUPA Luxol 71
(23-14, 18-16, 10-15, 19-26)

Champions Luxol showed great character in Sunday's opening leg of the best-of-three Powerade League final series against rivals Compleet, coming from behind to win the opener 71-70 with the last shot of the match.

Luxol will be delighted with the result but not so can be said of Compleet who didn't deserve to lose.

For long stretches, Compleet had shown the better qualities but they lost composure in the most crucial stages of the match.

Michael Naudi was in an unstoppable mood in the opening quarter. Three consecutive three-pointers by Naudi paved the way for the dominant Compleet to build a good advantage. A three-pointer on the stroke of time helped Luxol to reduce the gap to 23-14.

The champions did improve in the second quarter but they were unable to further narrow the deficit as Compleet changed ends 41-30 ahead.

Luxol coach John Tabone tried to lift his team during the interval but hasty shots or, worse still, bad passing allowed Joe Galea's team to hang on to their lead and start the last 10 minutes 51-45 ahead.

Compleet scored seven consecutive points to move 58-50 in front with five minutes left. They seemed in control at that point but Julian Naudi was fouled out with three minutes left and Luxol sensed that a recovery was still possible.

They potted four successive free-throws to trim the gap to a single basket, 68-66. With less than a minute to go, Omar Said kept his cool to convert two free-throws and Robert Azzopardi did likewise at the other end.

Compleet, however, gave away possession and from the side line, the ball arrived to Steve Schembri who released Azzopardi. The latter chose the right option by returning the ball to the unmarked Schembri who sunk a three-pointer that secured a slim but potentially crucial victory for his team.

Compleet: M. Naudi 27, J. Naudi 9, D. Camilleri 2, E. Bezzina 3, C. Sammut 1, J. Valdisere, O. Said 15, C. Calleja, A. Bonnici 3, K. Baldacchino 4, S. Cassar 6.

Luxol: R. Dalli, M. Mercieca 3, R. Azzopardi 10, M. Micallef, A. Borg 5, A. Portelli 3, N. Vasovic, T. Paris, D. Schembri 12, E. Caruana Montaldo, M. Matijevic 19, S. Schembri 19.

Referees: B. Vassallo, J.P. Sammut, A. Micallef.

Powerade League final (leg 2): Friday, 4.15 p.m.