Pavi Depiro 50
Falken Cynergi Virtus 86

(11-24, 12-19, 16-17, 11-26)

Virtus made it four wins from as many matches, this time their victims being Depiro who continue to struggle for form.

Virtus had Jacob Formosa back after missing the last couple of games through injury.

Depiro were only in the match for the first five minutes and after that Virtus clicked into gear and never looked back. At half-time, victory was already in their grasp as they led 43-23.

Depiro shared the exchanges soon after the restart but when Virtus, led by the spirited Peter Shoults, applied their press game there was only one team in it.

With Depiro unable to offer resistance, Virtus’s superiority continued until the final buzzer.

Depiro: J. Attard, M. Agius 3, A. Aquilina 2, N. Grech 5, T. Zammit 9, M. Mallia 4, G. Vlahos 2, K. Xuereb 3, M. Borg 2, M. Neu-leu  20.

Virtus: S. Pace 5, D. Bugeja 16, R. Bonnici 9, L. Sobers 1, S. Bonnici, J. Formosa 12, A. Felice Pace 2, C. Santos 33, A. Schembri, F. Bartolo, P. Shoults 8.

Floriana Café Del Mar 85
Hibernians 75

(19-21, 21-17, 26-16, 19-21)

Floriana joined Virtus at the top of the table after a hard-earned victory over Hibs who held their own for most of the match but still finished empty handed.

The match was a balanced affair until midway through the second quarter when Floriana potted 12 points without reply to race into a 36-25 lead. Hibs surpassed that difficult moment and did well to reduce the deficit to just two points at half-time – 40-38.

When play resumed, Floriana looked better on court to open an eight-point lead 46-38 which they extended to 60-46 after six consecutive points without reply.

A galvanized Floriana team continued to apply the pressure, potting points at regular intervals to go 82-60 in front.

The Greens reduced the pace late on but Hibs were unable to avoid defeat.

Floriana: C. Patus 35, L. Ross 29, N. Sultana 7, S. Borg 4, A. Portelli 3, C. Calleja 1, A. Axiaq 6, A. Micallef Trigona, N. Andrejevic.

Hibs: P. Attard 3, M. Hampton, G. Agius, L. Farrugia 14, S. Attard 17, I. Bonett, K. Caruana 13, R. Carabott 5, K. Sultana, S. Vella 3, F. Mariani 5, M. Matijevic 15.

Gżira Athleta 92
Bupa Luxol 67

(20-18, 19-16, 25-22, 28-11)

Athleta paraded their new foreign player Lee Kirby Fisher for the first time and the American contributed with 19 points against a depleted Luxol who gave their all despite the absences.

To worsen matters for Luxol Marco Mercieca was already on four fouls in the first quarter.

The game had a quiet start but eight consecutive points midway through the second quarter helped Athleta to break the equilibrium and open a 34-26 lead.

Luxol tried to hit back but they could only reduce the gap to five points at half-time – 39-34.

Athleta had the better start after the break as Mercieca was fouled out. However, Luxol shared the exchanges and thanks to Chris Julian Cordina’s shots from outside the zone they started the last ten minutes trailing 64-56.

However, fatigue was visible on Luxol’s faces as they failed to conclude their attacks. Athleta profited from the situation and were successful from their shots to put the issue beyond doubt.

Athleta: M. Naudi 21, R. Vella 17, F. Mifsud Bonnici, D. Weirsum 9, L. Stefanovic, I. Buldakov, B. Zammit 6, A. Micallef 5, N. Lubrano 15, L. Fisher 19.

Luxol: C.J. Cordina 20, C. Fason 32, J. Willoughby, J.J. Tabone, J.P. Schembri, K. Dimech, S. Vassar, M. Mercieca 2, J. Maistre Melillo, J.P. Bonnici 13.

Standings: Virtus 8 (4-0), Floriana 8 (4-0), Athleta 6 (2-2), Luxol 5 (1-3), Hibs 5 (1-3), Depiro 4 (0-4).

Top scorers: C. Fason (Luxol) 130, C. Patus (Floriana) 110, C. Santo (Virtus) 98, M. Naudi (Athleta) 96, M. Neuleu (Depiro) 96.

National League: Saturday, 16.30 Depiro vs Luxol. Sunday, 13.00 Hibs vs Athleta, 16.30 Floriana vs Virtus.

Perfect records

Hibs and Caffe Moak Luxol continued with their unbeaten march at the top of the women’s basketball championship following victories over PAVI Depiro and Starlites, respectively.

Depiro were unable to shrug aside their current poor form and were swept aside by Hibernians who took control before half-time and went in for the break leading 41-20.

Depiro, without shooter Maria Bonett, failed to raise their game as the Paola girls went on to win handsomely – 76-39.

Luxol also met little resistance from Starlites who experienced a difficult first quarter during which they failed to score a single point (23-0).

At the changing of ends, victory was already in Luxol’s bags as they led 39-8. In the end, the joint leaders cantered home to a pronounced victory – 73-25.

In another match, Athleta kept in touch in third place with a comfortable 76-28 victory over lowly Floriana, still without a win after four matches.

After leading 25-1 at the end of the first quarter, Athleta extended that advantage to 55-18 at half-time before completing the formalities in the next two quarters which they dominated throughout.

Standings: Hibernians  8 (4-0), Luxol  8 (4-0), Athleta 7 (3-1), Depiro 5 (1-3), Starlites 5 (1-3) Floriana 4 (0-4).

National League: Saturday, 14.45 Starlites vs Hibs. Sunday, 11.15 Floriana vs Depiro, 14.45 Luxol vs Athleta.