Easy start for champs

The 2011/12 national league got underway last weekend with champions Athleta A-Z Electronics breezing past Floriana as BUPA Luxol met strong resistance from Loyola Tata Motors. On Sunday, Depiro Mtarfa had the better of Siġġiewi in a tense game.

Athleta A-Z Electronics 73
Floriana Francesco Fenech 47
(18-11, 26-11, 13-17, 16-8)

Champions Athleta had little trouble starting their campaign with victory over promoted side Floriana.

After Athleta notched the opening couple of baskets, Floriana’s answer produced five points. Athleta regained control to lead 18-11 at the end of the first quarter.

Joe Galea’s boys increased the pressure as the second session got underway and a series of three-pointers by Omar Said saw them surge 32-15 ahead with five minutes left for half-time.

After changing ends 44-22 in front, Athleta eased up with Floriana coming more into the picture but they were still unable to unsettle their opponents who had built a comfortable lead going into the final 10 minutes, 57-39.

The game was won and lost as Floriana never looked capable of turning the tide.

Athleta: M. Naudi 14, D. Bugeja 3, M. Giusti, A. Fekete 4, O. Said 21, D. Schembri 11, A. Bonnici 17, S. Schembri, I. Bulakov 3.

Floriana: J. Curmi, C. Sammut 7, I. Mercieca 2, S. Sammut 11, C. Calleja 2, A. Baldacchino 3, B. Williams 20, A. Sultana 2.

Referees: E. Mangani, A. Carbo-naro, C. Terribile.

Loyola Tata Motors 78
BUPA Luxol 82
(14-17, 18-18, 22-26, 24-21)

The league curtain-raiser between Loyola and Luxol turned out to be the best of the weekend as the two teams’ US players stole the show after scoring 81 points between them.

Loyola’s Rashanti Harris had a field day with his dunks.

The match was finely-poised until Loyola lost their tall player Anton Axiaq at the start of the second session after committing his fifth foul. Nevertheless, Loyola battled on to change ends only three points behind, 35-32.

Luxol hit a bright patch after the break and extended their lead to 44-32. But Loyola recovered to close the gap to seven points, 61-54, for the last 10 minutes.

They persevered to reduce the deficit to just one point, 65-64, with six minutes left. But Luxol regrouped and despite losing Marco Mercieca, fouled out, they stayed ahead with Lee Ross’s free-throws securing their victory.

Loyola: S. Pace 15, B. Zammit 5, D. Camilleri 3, S. Borg, L. Azzopardi, S. Vella, A. Axiaq 3, G. Cuschieri, J. Anastasi 7, J. Ransley, R. Harris 45.

Luxol: C.J. Cordina 6, M. Mercieca 10, J. Bilen 36, A. Micallef Trigona, L. Ross 24, A. Costa, N. Vasovic 2, T. Paris, M. Attard Montalto, E. Caruana Montaldo, J.P. Bonnici 4.

Referees: G. Barbara, A. Carbo-naro, C. Terribile.

Siġġiewi 71
Depiro Mtarfa 83
(16-31, 14-15, 19-16, 22-21)

Depiro launched their league campaign on a good note after seeing off Siġġiewi who lost their cool in a frantic finale.

Pity that in the best part of the match tension spilled over as Siġġiewi strongly contested a refereeing decision when they were narrowing the gap with their opponents.

Siġġiewi, without playmaker Louis Camilleri and Eman Xuereb, had a poor start with their former player Adrian Micallef doing much of the damage.

Siġġiewi looked to have surpassed that difficult moment as Marco Matijevic hit five points. However, their individual play was punished by Depiro who regained control and led 46-30 at half-time.

Siġġiewi were expected to raise their game after the interval but it was Depiro who continued to dictate matters.

Then, in the last minutes, Siġ-ġiewi found their touch and should have closed the gap further had they concluded their fast breaks instead of going for quick shots from the three-point line.

Depiro began the last 10 minutes 62-49 ahead but Siġġiewi kept up the momentum only for the refs to slap a technical foul on Alan Borg (who showed his disagree-ment with a decision) to spark confusion.

Siġġiewi were further angered with another decision against them in the Depiro zone and their protests led to the exclusion of Nigel Sultana. He was soon followed by Borg for showing dissent as his team-mates lost their heads and the game.

Here, one has to question the MBA’s policy to have the same referee controlling three consecutive matches, almost five hours on court, and expect him to retain his sharpness and mobility.

Siġġiewi: R. Agius, P. Shoults 14, N. Sultana 2, A. Borg 3, J.P. Azzopardi 4, C. Maeir 18, C. Kodomors, M. Majtevic 30.

Depiro: R. Vella 22, J.P. Schembri, A. Aquilina 5, A. Portelli 2, A. Micallef 21, E. Lupo 6, M. Mallia, I. Tanti 8, G. Hamlin 19.

Referees: G. Barbara, C. Terribile, S. Gouder.