A to Z Electronics Athleta are the sole leaders of the BOV National League after a convincing win over BUPA Luxol. Floriana Café Del Mar had the better of PAVI Depiro, who are still without a win this season, while the fixture between Virtus Cynergi and Remax Siġġiewi Citadel was postponed due to a slippery surface at the Ta’ Qali pavilion.
A-Z Electronics Athleta 90
BUPA Luxol 63
(17-14, 27-15, 23-13, 23-21)
Athleta and Luxol came into this match on the back of two straight wins but it was the defending champions who maintained their perfect league record.
Luxol’s performance was poor as their resistance fizzled out after the opening quarter. Their slow-moving defence struggled to cope with Athleta’s fast attacking play and their cause was further undermined by a low scoring percentage.
Luxol started brightly, surging into a 6-2 lead, but Athleta soon clicked into gear and eight consecutive points put them 10-8 in front.
The match remained balanced in the opening stages but once Athleta started to contain Thomas Staton’s threat, they began to break away more effectively to end the first quarter three points ahead, 17-14.
Athleta enjoyed a good spell midway through the second session to extend their lead to 35-22 before going on to change ends 44-29 ahead.
Luxol’s response failed to materialise after half-time, paving the way for Joe Galea’s team to pull 22 points clear midway through the third quarter, 55-33.
Leading 67-42 at the start of the final 10 minutes, Athleta had little difficulty administering their advantage to go clear at the top.
Athleta: M. Naudi 14, R. Vella 6, C. Patus 26, A. Aquilina 15, M. Gauci Montaldo, O. Said 17, S. Gouder 6, I. Tanti 6, F. Mifsud Bonnici.
Luxol: C.J. Cordina 14, J. Willoughby, J.P. Schembri 3, N. Andrejevic, S. Visser, T. Staton 30, J.P. Bonnici 4, A. Micallef Trigona 6, S. Capello 6.
Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, C. Terribile.
PAVI Depiro 67
Floriana Café Del Mar 91
(20-20, 14-17, 17-26, 16-28)
Playmaker Shaun Borg and pivot Dirk Schembri made a timely return to the Floriana formation as they inspired the team to their first league victory of the season over an inexperienced Depiro side.
Marc Herriger, Floriana’s new signing, also had a good outing. Besides marshalling Depiro’s Marco Todorovic underneath the boards, the American also made his mark at the other end of the court, finishing as the match top scorer with 40 points.
Depiro lost their composure when under pressure and, consequently, produced several astray passes and hurried shots.
After Floriana took an early 12-7 lead, Depiro hit back to level the scores at 20-all at the end of the opening quarter.
Floriana gradually started to impose themselves and a 11-4 break saw them 33-29 ahead.
Depiro failed to respond and trailed 37-34 at the interval.
Floriana stayed on top in the third quarter to move 12 points clear, 48-36.
With Depiro struggling to find their rhythm, the Greens pulled further clear, 57-41. The Rabat side tried to narrow the gap but Floriana put the game beyond their opponents’ reach when they stretched their lead to 70-54, going on to win 91-67.
Depiro: J. Attard 2, D. Schembri 5, R. Rizzo, T. Zammit 23, M. Todorovic 15, R. Zammit, K. Xuereb 11, M. Borg 4, S. Saakian 7.
Floriana: M. Herriger 40, D. Camilleri 15, N. Sultana 14, S. Borg 3, L. Ross 5, N. Vasovic 6, C. Calleja 2, D. Schembri 6, F. Determan, O. Shamala, D. Agius.
Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani , C. Terribile.
Standings
Athleta 6 (3-0); Luxol 5 (2-1); Floriana 4 (1-2); Virtus 3 (1-1), Siġġiewi 3 (1-1); Depiro 3 (0-3).
Top scorers
M. Todorovic (Depiro) 82; T. Staton (Luxol) 74; M. Herriger (Floriana) 72; O. Said (Athleta) 59; C.J. Cordina (Luxol) 59.
Next fixtures
BOV National League – (Saturday) 4.30pm Siġġiewi vs Luxol. (Sunday) 1pm Floriana vs Athleta; 4.30pm Depiro vs Virtus.