The road to the National League final got underway with the first matches from the best-of-three semi-final play-offs, last weekend.

The second ties are now scheduled for next Sunday.

Floriana Café Del Mar 87
BUPA Luxol 68
(18-13, 22-16, 25-15, 22-24)

Without the injured Colt Fason, Luxol were unable to match Floriana whose height superiority and experience came to the fore in this match.

The Greens, coming from a morale-boosting win over Virtus in their previous outing, started the match strongly.

Luxol, however, stayed in contention and profited from their opponents’ lack of concentration as the second quarter got underway to pot the opening seven points and forge 20-18 ahead.

Floriana coach Mario Tabone called for a time-out.

He effected a couple of substitutions and his side soon regained composure to seize the upperhand, going on to change ends 40-29 in front with Chad Patus and Nigel Sultana leading the team’s charge.

Luxol had a positive start after the interval but Floriana’s res-ponse was immediate as they hit a 15-2 break, putting them firmly in the driving seat.

Floriana knew victory was within their grasp as the last 10-minute quarter got underway. They administered their lead wisely to draw first blood in the best-of-three series.

Floriana: C. Patus 30, N. Sultana 19, S. Borg 2, A. Portelli, N. Vasovic 13, C. Calleja 2, A. Axiaq 9, A. Micallef Trigona 4, N. Andre-jevic 8.

Luxol: C.J. Cordina 6, M. Mercieca 14, J. Willoughby 3, S. Vasser 3, K. Dimech 2, J.P. Schembri 14, T. Paris, J.P. Bonnici 18, W. Ahlberg 8.

Referees: A. Carbonaro, Z. Dob-roseljevic, C. Farrugia.

Falken Cynergi Virtus 90
Gżira Athleta 66
(21-14, 25-13, 19-19, 25-20)

More was expected from Athleta but the absence of regular playmaker Roderick Vella hit their chances badly even though they had pivot Nikolai Lubrano and Matthew Gouder available.

Virtus were looking to get back on track after the upset to Floriana in the last match of the regular season. They had all their best players on court and the response was outstanding.

Both teams were studying each other in the opening minutes but Virtus soon potted a 13-2 run and they never looked back after that.

They resorted to full court press at the start of the second quarter and with Lee Fisher fading out in the Athleta attack, Virtus raced into a 46-27 lead at the half-time break.

Athleta looked more determined when play resumed. Finally, they seemed to have found a way past Virtus’s defensive wall and they reduced the gap to 52-39 with a Billy Zammit three-pointer.

A time-out helped Virtus to get back into shape though and the champions went into the last session leading the match 65-46 following a series of successful shots from outside the arch.

Athleta did try to apply some pressure but the gap never closed. In the final stages both coaches opted to give their fringe players more time on the court.

Virtus: S. Pace 6, D. Bugeja 22, R. Bonnici 10, D. Camilleri 9, J. Formosa 11, A. Felice Pace, C. Santo 22, L. Sobers, A. Schembri 2, P. Shoults 8, T. Grech.

Athleta: M. Naudi 20, M. Gouder 9, F. Mifsud Bonnici, D. Weirsum 4, L. Stefanovic 2, I. Buldakov 2, B. Zammit 3, A. Micallef 4, N. Lubrano 6, S. Vincic 3, L. Fisher 13, M. Gauci Montaldo.

Referees: B. Vassallo, A. Carbo-naro, Z. Dobroseljevic.

Men’s SF play-offs (game 2 Sunday) – 13.00 Athleta vs Virtus; 16.30 BUPA Luxol vs Floriana.