BUPA Luxol 61
Siġġiewi Derby 59
(11-18, 21-16, 16-13, 13-12)
Galvanised by the return of Marco Mercieca after his suspension was reduced by three matches on appeal, BUPA Luxol achieved an important victory in their quest to reach the Championship Pool at the end of the first phase.
Siġġiewi, who were without Marco Matijevic, as usual complicated matters for themselves. After a bright start, the champions lost their accuracy and were overpowered by Luxol underneath the boards where the unrecognisable Adrian Micallef was blotted out by Andrew Cremona.
Luxol came through an indifferent start with Petar Apcev inflicting most of the damage with his three-point attempts.
The early stages belonged to Siġġiewi who opened a nine-point gap, 13-4, by the fifth minute. Gradually Luxol improved while Siġġiewi went for hurried conclusions. This played into Luxol’s hands as the latter shared the exchanges until the end of the quarter, 18-11.
Luxol’s comeback continued in the second session but after levelling the scores, they conceded a basket before half-time to change ends 34-32 in arrears.
The game unfolded into a balanced affair with one team then the other taking the lead. Luxol began the last 10 minutes a point in front, 48-47.
Siġġiewi showed the better ideas as the last quarter got underway to lead 55-52 with five minutes left.
But, as in the Detur Super Cup final, Siġġiewi crumbled as their players looked more interested in adding to their personal tally. This allowed Luxol to open a four-point lead, 59-55, with less than two minutes left.
Lee Ross had the opportunity to force extra-time but, alone underneath the board, he saw his last-gasp attempt bounce on the ring before dropping out, much to the joy of Luxol’s supporters.
Luxol: C.J. Cordina, M. Mercieca 10, P. Apcev 30, J. Gambin. A. Micallef Trigona, A. Costa 4, N. Vasovic 5, T. Paris 1, A. Cremona 7, E. Caruana Montaldo, J.P. Bonnici 4, S. Mizzi.
Siġġiewi: P. Shoults 9, K. Borg 6, J. Doughty, E. Xuereb 2, A. Borg 7, A. Micallef 13, L. Ross 14, J. Jetsen 8.
Referees: E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile.
Athleta A to Z Electronics 79
Loyola Tata Motors 63
(20-11, 10-7, 23-21, 26-24)
Despite showing improvement on their recent performances, Loyola were helpless to upset leaders Athleta, even though the latter had to make do without playmaker Omar Said.
Led by captain Michael Naudi and Steve Schembri, Athleta enjoyed the better start to open a 10-3 lead after five minutes. Loyola came back to share the exchanges till the end of the opening quarter.
The equilibrium was interrupted in the last five minutes before half-time when Athleta’s full-court press unsettled Loyola who could not get another point as the leaders changed ends 30-18 ahead.
Sticking to their aggressive approach in defence, Loyola recovered to narrow the deficit to just four points, 40-36, in the seventh minute of the third quarter.
Athleta regained control and a 13-3 run enabled them to restore their lead as they stayed on top in the last 10 minutes for their eighth consecutive victory.
Athleta: M. Naudi 23, J. Zammit, D. Schembri 20, E. Bezzina 2, C. Calleja 3, A. Bonnici 7, K. Baldacchino 1, A. Ryan 3, S. Schembri 20.
Loyola: S. Pace 9, B. Zammit, D. Camilleri 21, S. Borg, C. Borg, L. Azzopardi, S. Vella 2, A. Axiaq, G. Mihajlovic 17, J. Anastasi 12, J. Ransley, A. Tabone 2.
Referees: E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile.
Standings: Athleta 16 (8-0); Luxol 11 (3-5); Siġġiewi 10 (3-4); Depiro 9 (2-5), Loyola 9 (2-5).
Top scorers: P. Apcev (Luxol) 143; M. Naudi (Athleta) 136; A. Micallef (Siġġiewi) 116; R. Vella (Depiro) 110; O. Said (Athleta)109.
Next fixtures: (Men’s League) Saturday 3.45 p.m. Siġġiewi vs Depiro. Sunday 4.15 p.m. Luxol vs Loyola.