Champions Royce Floriana started their title defence with a victory over Starlites as other strong challengers Athleta A-Z Electronics disposed of rivals BUPA Luxol. In another match PAVI Depiro just managed to edge Remix Siġġiewi.

Royce Floriana 76
Starlites 66

(10-7, 19-17, 22-13, 25-29)

Floriana have already eliminated Starlites from the MBA Shield semi-finals this season and last weekend they came out on top again in their league opener.

As happened in the Shield, this match was decided after the interval when Floriana’s press tactics caused too many problems to the inexperienced Starlites who relied mostly on pivot Marco Todorovic to pot the points.

The match had a slow start but after trailing 5-2, Floriana obtained the next eight points.

Starlites started the second session on a better note to take a one point lead – 13-12. After a time-out and substitutions, the champions looked better deployed on court to regain the lead and change ends 29-24 ahead.

Starlites’ poor start to the third quarter was their undoing as they lost possessions and their shooting was unsuccessful.

All this helped Floriana to extend their lead to 40-26.

Starlites surpassed that shaky patch but the damage had already been done and Floriana preserved their lead to start the league campaign on a right footing.

Floriana: O. Shamala, D. Elston 24, D. Camilleri 5, P. Shoults 13, S. Borg 5, C, Calleja, D. Schembri 22, S. Saakian 4, D. Agius 3.

Starlites: M. Todorovic 35, R. Loporto 5, R. Bonnici 18, S. Bonnici 6, J. Curmi, A. Cutajar, A. Schembri, B. Soler, D. Szokerly, G. Coleiro 2, M. Ciantar.

Referees: B. Vassallo, C. Terribile, T. Helenious.

BUPA Luxol 54
Athleta A-Z Electronics 78

(13-19, 9-27, 12-10, 20-22)

After being eliminated from the Shield, Luxol again had to bow their heads to a superior Athleta who punished them for their poor performance in the zone.

Following an encouraging start with three consecutive three-pointers, Luxol fizzled away as Athleta practically made sure of victory before half-time.

Luxol kept in touch only for the opening five minutes when they led 9-8. Adrian Micallef then started to struggle and Luxol faltered badly. Athleta seized control of the proceedings to change ends with a comfortable 46-22 lead.

Athleta were also somewhat erratic in their shots after the interval but Luxol were never in a position to profit from the situa-tion as they persisted in individual play.

With a 56-34 lead, Athleta controlled Luxol’s last efforts in the fourth quarter to collect their first victory.

Luxol: C.J. Cordina 13, M. Mercieca 2, A. Micallef 4, A. Micallef Trigona, C. Cassar, J.P. Schembri 3, N. Vasovic 9, T. Paris, M. Meyers Keitt 15, J. Willoughby 1, S. Capello 7.

Athleta: M. Naudi 11, D. Bugeja 4, C. Patus 20, M. Giusti, S. Bischoff 4, O. Said 8, S. Pace 11, B. Bartolo 4, W. Spiteri, D. Ross, S. Schembri 16.

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, C. Terribile.

PAVI Depiro 62
Remix Siġġiewi 60

(15-18, 12-16, 19-15, 16-11)

Depiro’s Turrel Morris was the match top-scorer with 29 points as the seven-foot Ivo Hoeger also had his good moments for Siġġiewi who had to do without Marco Matijevic.

After a cautious start, Siġġiewi did well to turn a three-point deficit into an 18-15 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Depiro had two consecutive baskets but Siġġiewi hit back strongly to open a 34-27 lead.

As the third quarter got underway, Siġġiewi extended their advantage to 39-27.

A time-out helped Depiro regroup and ten points without reply saw them back in contention. Siġġiewi, however, did not lay back and started the last ten minutes 49-46 in front.

The match was a close affair with Depiro’s efforts to forge ahead resisted by Siġġiewi until the final seconds when Nigel Sultana put Depiro 62-60 ahead.

Siġġiewi’s Lee Ross, who had a satisfactory outing, had possession but instead of going for the shot, he opted for a pass in the opponents’ zone and the chance was lost.

Depiro: R. Vella 8, B. Zammit, N. Sultana 8, T. Morris 29, A. Aquilina 5, A. Portelli 2, S.P. Bartolo 5, A. Axiaq 5, E. Lupo, I. Tanti.

Siġġiewi: M. Mallia 2, A. Debattista, S. Sammut, C. Sammut 15, N. Falzon, L. Camilleri 7, A. Borg , L. Ross 18, J.P. Antoncich, I. Hoeger 16, C. Kodo-maris 2.

Referees: B. Vassallo, L. Camilleri, S. Gouder.

Fixtures
Saturday: 16.30 A-Z vs Depiro.
Sunday: 13.00 Siġġiewi vs Floriana; 16.30 Starlites vs Luxol.