The two teams to contest this year’s final will be known next Sunday as the best-of-three semi-final play-offs are now locked in 1-1 stalemates and will require a third game to determine a winner.

[attach id=242521 size="medium"]Depiro kept their final hopes alive after beating Athleta.[/attach]

PAVI Depiro 71
Athleta A-Z Electronics 53

(17-15, 16-11, 17-5, 21-22)

Depiro got the victory they needed to stay in contention for a place in the final. They forced a decider after beating Athleta who got their tactics wrong in the third quarter.

Rarely have Athleta been so negative as in those ten minutes when they lost possession cheaply and were poor in their shooting percentage.

With the lead changing hands several times, it was Depiro who enjoyed a slim advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Athleta forged ahead in the early minutes of the second session but Depiro, with Shawn Morgan in splendid form, rocked the champions with 14 consecutive points for them to open a 33-20 lead.

One expected Joe Galea’s team to show more determination in their play after the interval. However, Depiro held on well before potting nine points without reply for a comfortable 48-27 lead.

Athleta started the last ten minutes 50-31 behind. They tried hard to avoid a third match but Depiro were not to be denied and the nearest A-Z came was ten points, 59-49.

After that, Depiro regained control to seal the win.

Depiro: R. Vella 9, N. Sultana 3, K. Kuns, A. Aquilina 8, A. Portelli 7, D. Agius, E. Lupo, M. Mallia 2, I. Tanti 7, S. Morgan 35.

Athleta: M. Naudi 2, S. Hagul, D. Bugeja 6, M. Todorovic 13, M. Giusti, E. Bezzina 2, O. Said 7, S. Pace 1, W. Spiteri, K. Baldacchino 6, S. Schembri 16.

Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile, S. Gouder.

Siġġiewi 83
Floriana Francesco Fenech 69

(22-17, 25-20, 15-18, 21-14)

Siġġiewi kept hold of their nerves this time to beat the Phase One leaders and force a deciding match.

Peter Shoults and Marco Matijevic showed better form, particularly in attack, and this helped Siġġiewi to dictate matters for most of the encounter.

Floriana were far from the team that played so well in the previous outing.

Only Matt Glass and, at times, Bevan Scott Camilleri were positive in their shooting as Dirk Schembri worked hard underneath the boards but found little help from his team-mates.

Siġġiewi opened an early advantage which they did well to administer before going in for the break with a ten-point advantage, 47-37.

After a balanced start to the third quarter, Floriana’s full court press tactics put Siġġiewi under pressure as Chris Meier and Matijevic persisted in their shooting despite a poor patch.

Floriana gained in confidence and suddenly they were only four points behind, 59-55. However, a time-out and a Shoults three-pointer saw Siġġiewi starting the last ten minutes 62-55 in front.

With Floriana playmaker Chris Sammut unable to lift his game, Siġġiewi extended their momentum into the last quarter (75-61) before keeping back Floriana’s last frantic efforts to save the match.

Siġġiewi: N. Falzon, P. Shoults 21, E. Xuereb 10, A. Borg 10, D. Ross, C. Meier 12, A. Fekete, M. Matijevic 30.

Floriana: A. Baldacchino, B. Scott Camilleri 14, D. Camilleri 2, M. Glass 32, C. Sammut 3, I. Mercieca, C. Calleja 4, D. Schembri 14, S. Saakian.

Refs: E. Mangani, C. Terribile, S. Gouder.

Sunday’s fixtures
SF play-offs (Game 3) 13.00 Floriana vs Siġġiewi, 16.30 Athleta vs Depiro.