Champions A to Z Electronics Athleta secured their place in the final of the BOV League after beating BUPA Luxol 2-0 in the best-of-three semi-final. Their opponents will be known on Sunday after Floriana Café Del Mar forced a third decisive game against Virtus Cynergi.
Floriana Café Del Mar 91
Virtus Cynergi 77
(19-16, 23-25, 28-15, 21-21)
Floriana deserved their win as they were the better team on the day.
With playmaker Lee Ross finding his shooting touch, Floriana made the decisive break after the interval to keep alive their hopes of setting up a title clash with Athleta.
The Greens prevailed because they showed better teamwork and were more determined when it mattered most.
Virtus were let down by individual play after the break.
Needing a victory to stay in contention after losing the first game last Thursday, Floriana enjoyed the brighter start to lead 10-2. After the fifth minute, Virtus raised their performance to narrow the gap to three points, 19-16.
The third minute of the second quarter saw Virtus take a slight lead, 23-22, only for Floriana to nail the next seven points and regain their advantage, 29-23.
Virtus recovered to go through another good spell as they went 34-31 ahead. Now it was Floriana’s turn to dictate the tempo in the final three minutes before half-time to change ends a point ahead, 42-41.
The early stages of the third quarter had a massive bearing on the outcome as Floriana stayed in control to extend their lead to 49-41.
At this point, Virtus lost their composure and their task was not helped by frequent substitutions.
With Virtus failing to react, Floriana began the last 10 minutes 70-56 ahead.
Hard as they tried, Virtus were unable to lift their game, allowing Floriana to preserve their advantage without difficulty.
Floriana: M. Henniger 37, D. Camilleri, N. Sultana 12, S. Borg 3, L. Ross 20, N. Vasovic 10,C. Calleja 5, D. Schembri 4, O. Shamala, D. Agius.
Virtus: S. Pace 5, D. Bugeja 18, R. Bonnici 2, G. Coleiro, M. Falzon, M. Bruesewitz 27, A. Felice Pace 6, A. Axiaq 16, I. Buldakov, A. Schembri, P. Shoults 3, F. Bartolo.
Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, E. Mangani.
Bupa Luxol 58
A-Z Electronics Athleta 80
(17-23, 12-13, 11-26, 18-18)
Although Luxol improved from the first match, which they lost 97-53, this was not enough to stop champions Athleta progressing to another final.
Contrary to the opening game, Luxol stayed in touch with Athleta until the interval but a disastrous third quarter spoiled their good work as their rivals profited to pull clear.
In the first quarter, the lead changed hands as Luxol forged 11-8 ahead after six minutes. After a time-out, Athleta found their rhythm to lead 23-17 after 10 minutes.
The second quarter was a balanced affair but both teams committed several mistakes. Athleta changed ends 36-29 ahead.
The pattern of the game changed after the half-time pause with Athleta coming out more determined.
Luxol were still in it until the fourth minute, 53-34, but a 19-2 break all but ended the game as a contest as Athleta cantered through.
Luxol: C.J. Cordina 21, A. Portelli 6, J. Willoughby 2, J.P. Schembri 3, S. Visser, T. Staton 16, A. Micallef Trigona 2, J.P. Bonnici 8.
Athleta: M. Naudi 15, R. Vella 14, C. Patus 15, A. Aquilina 12, O. Said 9, M. Gouder, L. Stefanovic, I. Tanti 15.
Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, E. Mangani.
Next fixtures
Saturday: Division Two play-off final (second leg 16.30 Mellieħa vs Hibs.
Sunday: BOV League semi-final play-off (third game 16.30 Virtus vs Floriana.