Athleta A-Z Electronics became the first team to reach the Men’s League final play-offs after a convincing victory over champions Siġġiewi Derby on Sunday.
This game started late as there were only two referees available.
Both sides protested and Siġġiewi only took to court after an official complaint on the scoresheet.
A-Z Electronics 74
Siġġiewi Derby 51
(23-2, 19-10, 11-19, 21-20)
Siġġiewi had Peter Shoults and Lee Ross missing and their absence was sorely felt as the team conceded a second upset in Phase Two of the championship.
Without taking any merits from Athleta, who had an outstanding start, Peter Farrugia’s men looked disjointed. Indeed, at first it seemed that some of Siggiewi’s players were only there to make the numbers.
Athleta had practically made sure of victory after that scorching opening session, which they won 23-2.
Farrugia then effected a couple of substitutions and Siġġiewi upped their play but the match was tense and the two officials had a tough time to calm down matters.
Athleta never lost composure though as they changed ends 42-12 ahead.
Siġġiewi were a changed team after the interval as they sought to halt the rot. With Addison Bonnici fouled out, Marco Matijevic was enjoying more space on court as he helped Siġġiewi to reduce the deficit to 53-31 for the last ten minutes.
Siġġiewi continued to be the better team but again they lost the plot in the final minutes allowing Athleta, particularly Kirsten Baldacchino, to coast to victory with a series of successful pots.
Athleta: M. Naudi 19, J. Zammit, D. Schembri 13, C. Galea, O. Said 11, A. Bonnici 4, K. Baldacchino 19, A. Ryan 5, S. Schembri 3.
Siġġiewi: E. Xuereb, J. Doughty, A. Borg 1, A. Micallef 10, K. Borg 2, J. Jetsen 8, M. Matijevic 30.
Referees: G. Barbara and E. Mangani.
Standings (Phase Two): Athleta 25, Siġġiewi 20, Luxol 19.
Playing tomorrow: 19.45 Athleta vs Luxol.
Sunday: 16.15 BOV KO final Athleta vs Siġġiewi.
Luxol girls draw first blood
Luxol won the first game in a best-of-three final play-off series to move a step closer to dethroning Hibs Medsea as champions.
With eight minutes left, Luxol looked comfortably in control but three baskets from outside the arc gave new energy to Hibs only for them to fumble some easy pots near the end.
Steffi DeMartino, with her 28 points, was Luxol’s match-winner in the end as they notched a 51-46 win.
Hibs started slowly in their attacking manoeuvres and they were also inaccurate in their shooting as DeMartino led her team to a 10-7 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The Paolites were clearly unable to raise their game and as both sides were guilty of some erratic play, Luxol changed ends 19-11 ahead.
Hibs’ reaction again failed to materialise and Luxol sped ahead to lead 42-23 with six minutes left.
But, suddenly Hibs burst into life and gradually crawled back into the reckoning.
They reduced the deficit to a single basket (48-46) but Emma Moore came to Luxol’s rescue and her successful free-throws stopped Hibs in their stride.
Sunday: (final play-offs, game 2) 14.30 Hibs vs Luxol.