Virtus Cynergi 67
Athleta A-Z Electronics 69

(11-18, 17-18, 19-19, 20-14)

This exciting match-up was a preamble to this afternoon’s BOV KO final which will be contested by the same two teams.

Thanks to their last-gasp victory, Athleta are the sole leaders in the standings, one point ahead of Virtus.

Virtus had forward Peter Shoults still sidelined with injury and his absence was sorely felt.

Paul Ferrante’s team surpassed a difficult start to recover slightly by the end of the first quarter. They trailed 18-11.

The second quarter continued on the same pattern as Athleta stretched their lead to 29-18 before Virtus’s reaction enabled them to cut the gap to five points, 29-24.

However, it was Athleta who had a strong finale to the quarter to change ends 36-28 ahead.

Virtus looked more motivated after the break and took a four-point advantage, 42-38. But 13 consecutive points from Athleta saw the lead shifting hands again at the start of the last 10 minutes – 55-47.

Virtus fell 11 points behind before embarking on a recovery mission that brought them level at 64-all. A three-pointer put Athleta back in front only for Virtus to equal the scores through a free-throw and a basket.

Athleta held possession in the dying seconds as Chad Patus nailed the winning shot for the champions.

Virtus: S. Pace 1, D. Bugeja 15, R. Bonnici 3, T. Grech, M. Falzon, M. Bruesewitz 33, A. Felice Pace, A. Axiaq 15, I. Buldakov, G. Coleiro, F. Bartolo.

Athleta: M. Naudi 13, R. Vella 11, F. Mifsud Bonnici, C. Patus 24, A. Aquilina 10, M. Gauci Montaldo, O. Said 3, M. Gouder, I. Tanti 8.

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

Remax Siġġiewi Citadel 75
PAVI Depiro 69

(23-14, 21-15, 19-23, 12-17)

Siġġiewi struggled to beat bottom-placed Depiro whose challenge was hindered by a poor percentage from the free-throw line.

Siġġiewi came into the match with morale sky high following their win over Floriana in the previous outing but they were almost surprised by Depiro who bounced back from the last minutes of the third quarter onwards with their top shooter Marco Todorovic again very much in the picture.

Todorovic was under a tight scrutiny at first and Siġġiewi seemed in control when opening a 20-point lead (61-41) soon after the break. Then, coach Ray Muscat opted to rest Harris and Billy Zammit and Siġġiewi lost their rhythm as Depiro reduced the gap significantly – 69-55 – before the last quarter got underway.

Depiro’s recovery reached a peak when a Karl Xuereb three-pointer saw them taking a 67-66 lead.

Siġġiewi now had their best players on court but still found the going tough as they could only add a Zammit three-pointer to their tally.

In the end, Siġġiewi were only rescued by Depiro’s low success rate from free-throws.

Harris was out with five fouls but Muscat’s men somehow managed to regain the upperhand, denting Depiro’s chances of their first win in the regular season.

Siġġiewi: B. Zammit 10, J.P. Antoncich, S. Sammut 26, M. Cassar 3, M. Matijevic, R. Carabott 8, A. Micallef 8, R. Harris 14, M. Mallia 6, L. Grima.

Depiro: J. Attard 3, D. Schembri 2, T. Zammit 12, N. Grech, M. Todorovic 24, S. Zammit 12, K. Xuereb 11, M. Borg, S. Saakian 5.

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, Z. Dobrosavljevic.

BUPA Luxol 71
Floriana Cafe del Mar 94

(13-23, 24-29, 18-17, 16-25)

Floriana got the win they needed to stay in line for a place in the play-offs as Luxol disappointed badly and were never in sight of victory.

Floriana took control right from the jump-ball and never looked back. Luxol trailed 52-37 at half-time and failed to make a reaction after the break as the Greens ended the third quarter 69-55 ahead.

Any comeback hopes Luxol might have had were all but over as the last 10 minutes got underway.

Floriana opened an assuring 86-65 lead which they controlled without breaking a sweat until the final whistle.

Luxol: C.J. Cordina 8, A. Portelli 11, J. Willoughby, J.P. Schembri 2, S. Viser, T. Staton 34, A. Micallef Trigona, J.P. Bonnici 10, S. Capello 6.

Floriana: M. Henniger 33, D. Camilleri 8, N. Sultana 8, S. Borg 2, L. Ross 14, N. Vasovic 14, C. Calleja 11, D. Schembri 4, S. Determan, O, Shamala.

Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile, Z. Dobrosavljevic.

Standings: Athleta 11 (5-1), Virtus 10 (4-2), Floriana 9 (3-3), Siġġiewi 9 (3-3), Luxol 9 (3-3), Depiro 6 (0-6).

Top scorers: T. Staton (Luxol) 180, M. Todorovic (Depiro) 168, M. Bruesewitz (Virtus) 166, M. Henniger (Floriana) 153, C. Patus (Athleta) 137.

Playing today: BOV KO final – 16.30 Athleta vs Virtus.