Athleta go down heavily to Depiro

Athleta A-Z Electronics 47
Depiro Mtarfa 70
(10-17, 13-16, 16-16, 8-21)

League leaders Athleta failed to live up to their billing and conceded their worst defeat in several years, the first in the championship this season after six successive wins.

This was a strange Athleta side that lacked enthusiasm and the will to play so Depiro took their chances well to strike a major surprise.

Former Siġġiewi player Nigel Sultana marked his debut for Depiro with 11 points.

Athleta started without top scorer Michael Naudi and the Schembri brothers and their absence showed as the team misfired badly.

Depiro won the first quarter and though Athleta improved after that, they still were far from their usual standards.

Depiro changed ends 33-23 up.

Playmaker Omar Said was also a shadow of the player we know. He was unable to up Athleta’s tempo and Depiro now led 49-39 as the last quarter got underway.

Athleta’s play became even more erratic as Depiro went on to inflict a heavy defeat on the champions who, in the end, looked more interested in contesting refs’ decisions than bridging the gap with their opponents.

Athleta: M. Naudi 11, D. Bugeja 2, M. Todorvic 13, M. Giusti, D. Schembri 4, O. Said 5, A. Bonnici 6, K. Baldacchino 3, S. Schembri 3.

Depiro: R. Vella 18, J.P. Sammut, N. Sultana 11, A. Aquilina 11, A. Portelli 2, A. Micallef 10, E. Lupo, M. Mallia, I. Tanti 2, G. Hamlin 16.

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, C. Terribile.

Loyola Tata Motors 72
Floriana Fran. Fenech 77
(11-23, 24-16, 19-17, 18-21)

Floriana halted Loyola’s comeback attempt late on to maintain their charge at the top of the standings.

Loyola’s confidence was high after their victory over Luxol but they were hampered by the injury to Raschanti Harris in the last quarter.

Eight consecutive points saw Floriana moving 23-11 ahead but with Evan Fjeld tightly marked, Loyola hit back admirably to reduce the gap at half-time – 35-39.

Fjeld was still nailing some points though and he pushed Floriana to a 54-45 lead. However, careless passing allowed Loyola back in.

David Camilleri potted crucial points and Loyola were now only two points behind their oppo-nents – 56-54.

But with the score tied at 66-all, Floriana obtained the decisive break – ten points without reply.

Loyola’s efforts were not enough to deny the Greens a merited fourth victory.

Loyola: S. Pace, B. Zammit 3, D. Camilleri 20, M. Cilia, S. Borg, S. Vella, A. Axiaq 6, J.P. Azzopardi 11, J. Anastasi 2, J. Ransley 4, R. Harris 26.

Floriana: C. Sammut 5, I. Mercieca 10, S. Sammut 15, C. Calleja 2, A. Baldacchino, E. Fjeld 42, A. Sultana 2, M. Ciantar 1.

Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, A. Carbonaro.

Siġġiewi 91
BUPA Luxol 69
(18-15, 17-20, 22-16, 34-18)

After two consecutive defeats, Siġġiewi were back to winning ways, beating Luxol to keep their play-offs chances alive.

With playmaker Louis Camilleri in the side, Siġġiewi had the better start. However, balance prevailed until half-time and, in fact, the score was tied at 35-all when the sides changed ends.

But thanks to Marco Matijevic and Chris Maeir, Siġġiewi opened better after the break to take a six-point lead which they preserved for the last ten minutes 57-51.

Trouble struck for Luxol when Marco Mercieca committed his fifth foul and with Jeron Belin fading away, Siġġiewi took control in a high-scoring fourth quarter to secure a priceless victory.

Siġġiewi: R. Agius, A. Cutajar, L. Camilleri, E. Xuereb 16, L. Grima, A. Borg 12, K. Borg 3, C. Maeir 28, C. Kodomaris, M. Matijevic 32.

Luxol: C.J. Cordina 2, M. Mercieca 3, J. Belin 29, L. Ross 19, A. Costa, N. Vasovic 6, T. Paris 2, M. Attard Montaldo, E. Caruana Montalto, J.P. Bonnici 8, S. Capello.

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, C. Terribile.

Standings: Athleta 13 (6-1), Floriana 11 (4-3), Depiro 11 (4-3), Siġġiewi 10 (3-4), Luxol 10 (3-4), Loyola 8 (1-6).

Next fixtures: March 3 – 15.30 Mtarfa vs Floriana. March 4 – 14.45 Luxol vs Athleta, 16.30 Loyola vs Siġġiewi.