Athleta A-Z Electronics won the fifth and decisive game in the BOV League final play-offs against BUPA Luxol to be crowned champions for the 10th time, yesterday.
BUPA Luxol 68
Athleta A-Z Electronics 77
(6-26, 20-18, 15-21, 27-12)
Athleta are the new kings of Maltese basketball after having the better of a faltering Luxol side who failed to repeat the same kind of performance of the previous four ties in the best-of-five series.
Luxol, without injured playmaker Jean Paul Schembri, looked tense on the day as Athleta showed better teamwork and profited from their opponents’ bad start to pave the way towards victory.
The slow-moving Luxol defence was unable to cope with Athleta’s fast flowing attacks.
Luxol also struggled in offence as they had a series of missed fast-breaks and wasting easy pots,particularly through Samuel Deguara.
After falling 11-2 behind, Luxol coach John Tabone opted for a time-out but Luxol’s play was riddled with mistakes.
Athleta held control and thanks to the contribution of Omar Said and Chad Patus they opened a 20-point lead by the end of the first quarter.
Luxol showed better play as the match resumed and also succeeded in reducing the gap but were never in a position to edge closer to their opponents.
Athleta never lost confidence and a last-gasp Patus three-pointer allowed Joe Galea’s men to go in for the break leading 44-26.
Luxol’s hopes took another nosedive when Deguara committed his fourth foul soon after the third quarter got underway. Athleta were never threatened as Luxol insisted on individual play and hasty shots from outside the zone.
It was only in the last few minutes that Athleta allowed Luxol more space where to manoeuvre but by that time the title was almost theirs even though David Bugeja showed lack of maturity when protesting against a referee’s decision.
That cost Athleta seven points but it was not Luxol’s day as Galea’s men held on for a merited championship success.
Luxol: C.J. Cordina 2, M. Mercieca 4, A. Micallef 6, N. Andrejevic, J. Willoughby, N. Vasovic 6, J.P. Bonnici 3, M. Myers Keitt 22, A. Micallef Trigona 3, S. Deguara 22, S. Capello.
Athleta: M. Naudi 14, C. Galea, D. Bugeja 10, C. Patus 28, K. Baldacchino, O. Said 16, S. Pace, W. Spiteri, S. Bischoff , S. Schembri 9.
Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, T. Helenius.