Gżira Athleta cruised to victory against Depiro in the Shield semi-finals. Photo: Steve Zammit LupiGżira Athleta cruised to victory against Depiro in the Shield semi-finals. Photo: Steve Zammit Lupi

Gżira Athleta 83
Cynergi Depiro 53

(18-16, 29-9, 13-14, 23-14)

A strong second-quarter showing paved the way for Athleta’s passage to the final of the Shield competition as the team led by Joe Galea opened a double-digit lead over Depiro who were shorn of the injured David Bugeja.

Although Depiro claimed the opening basket through Robert Bonnici, Gżira quickly set off and, with Josiah Whitehead helping himself to three baskets and two free-shots, they dashed to a 12-4 headway.

Depiro hit back and a couple of hoops from Dominic Scafidi made it a two-point game, 18-16, at the end of the first quarter.

The first five minutes of the second quarter led to a dearth of points from Depiro. But Athleta had a 10-point run as David Camilleri potted five shots from the distance on his way to a personal seasonal high of 24 points.

The game was practically over when in six minutes, either side of half-time, Athleta had a massive 23-0 run to go 56-25 ahead. They had a good day in shooting, netting more than half of their attempts from outside the zone.

Depiro did try to close the gap when they closed the third quarter with 11 consecutive points as Galea also introduced his fringe players.

Reverting to their starting five as the last quarter got underway, Athleta again gained the upperhand and controlled the proceedings to ascertain themselves of a spot in Sunday’s final where they will be looking to win the Shield for a record nine times.

Athleta: M. Naudi 16, R. Vella 8, D. Camilleri 24, L. Stefanovic, P. Shoults 10, F. Mifsud Bonnici, B. Zammit 6, N. Lubrano, S. Vincic 2, M.G. Montaldo, J. Whitehead 17.

Depiro: J. Attard, N. Grech, R. Bonnici 14, D. Schembri, A. Aquilina 5, S. Zammit 7, T. Zammit, M. Mallia, A. Quiros 4, K. Xuereb 6, M. Borg, D. Scafidi 17.

Referees: B. Vassallo, C. Farrugia, I. Marjanovic.

Floriana MCP 68
Bupa Luxol 56

(14-8, 18-25, 22-9, 14-14)

Twenty-four minutes into this game, Luxol were coming off two consecutive baskets from Jamie Willoughby and William Ahlberg to go 40-37 in front.

Yet, this was the last change of lead as in the next six minutes of the third quarter, Floriana went on a 17-2 run, including four long distance shots, three of which shared by Nikola Vasovic and Chad Patus, to join Athleta in a rematch of the Independence Cup final.

Although Floriana opened the match with Vasovic’s hoops from mid-range as well as close-range field points from pivot Anton Axiaq, Luxol stayed in touch through Pierce Cumpstone and C.J. Cordina’s three-pointers.

A five-point break midway through the second quarter helped the Greens open a 27-19 lead.

Luxol were quick to reply and Ahlberg, who played for the first time this season with a local foreigner status, determined his side’s rhythm. The gap between the two sides diminished until, just before the change of ends, an Ahlberg shot put his team 33-32 ahead.

Luxol kept their noses ahead in the early minutes of the second half until Floriana hit a determining 17-2 break to close off the third quarter 54-42 ahead.

The last ten minutes saw Luxol’s four three-pointers, including one from Keith Dimech, neutralised by Patus as the Greens held the upperhand in rebounds with a series of successful second-chance attempts.

Floriana: C. Patus 20, S. Pace 6, D. Schembri 8, S. Borg, N. Vasovic 20, C. Calleja 4, A. Axiaq 10, N. Andrejevic.

Luxol: C.J. Cordina 9, M. Mercieca 3, J. Willoughby 2, D. Meli, J. Maistre, K. Dimech 3, W. Ahlberg 23, P. Cumpstone 14, S. Cappello 2.

Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, S. Micallef.

Women’s SF

Gżira Athleta 61
Caffe Moak Luxol 50

(20-16, 23-14, 4-12, 14-8)

Athleta booked their place in the final against Depiro after beating Luxol who were missing some of their regulars.

Although Athleta were almost always in the lead, this encounter was, in fact, decided in the closing stages with Ruth Spiteri’s girls grabbing a 9-0 winning break in the last four minutes.

In fact, Luxol had succeeded in clawing their way back into the game in the third quarter before a brace of baskets from Ina Baena Medina and a hoop and a three-pointer from Lindsay Messard, in the first part of the final quarter, made it just a two-point game, 52-50, and all to play for.

Yet, from that moment till the final buzzer Athleta went on to lead the way as Amelia Simmons, Christine Grima and Milica Stefanovic combined perfectly in getting crucial points that led them to victory.

Depiro coach Zeina Hemedan waited eagerly to see who will be their opponents in the final.

“There’s great team spirit among my players at the moment and we are very disciplined on the court,” she said.

“We are looking forward to playing against Athleta in the final in search of our first title this season.”

Athleta: M. Stefanovic 8, C. Grima 17, S. Pisani, L. Sciberras 11, A. Simmons 19, D. Said Hollier 3, A. Borg 3, S. Vella, E. Pace, C. Mifsud.

Luxol: K. Calleja, M. Darmanin 5, I. Baena Medina 8, S. DeMartino 19, K. Calleja, A. Calleja, P. Ellul 6,  L. Lessard 12, C. Curmi.

Refs: G. Barbara, I. Marjanovic.

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