Thanks to a second victory over leaders Athleta, Luxol booked their place in the final play-offs with outgoing champions Siġ-ġiewi finishing third in the Cham-pionship Pool and out of the reckoning to defend the title they won last year.

Athleta A-Z Electronics 88
BUPA Luxol 93
(31-23, 17-22, 14-21, 26-27)

This match was played only three days after Athleta had practically eliminated Siġġiewi Derby from the championship play-offs.

In a high-scoring encounter, Luxol looked the fresher side as leaders Athleta simply failed to reach the same levels of their previous outing.

Against Siġġiewi, Athleta had played a blinder and defended strongly.

However, coach Joe Galea opted to rest most of his first-team players on Sunday and Luxol profited from the situation to clinch the victory they needed and finish second in the standings.

In a frantic start, a series of shots from outside the arc saw Athleta leading 31-23 at the end of the first quarter. But with some fringe players on court, Galea’s team started to wilt under the Luxol’s pressure. At half-time, the Violets had turned the tide in their favour 48-45.

With Luxol’s chief scorer Petar Apcev easily driving past a static Athleta defence, Luxol continued to hold the upperhand to start the last ten minutes leading 66-62.

Athleta kept within striking distance but three attack fouls in the last two minutes dashed their hopes of a comeback as Luxol preserved their lead for a place in the final.

Athleta: M. Naudi 8, J. Zammit 14, C. Galea 12, E. Bezzina 8, O. Said 9, D. Schembri 7, A. Bonnici 15, K. Baldacchino 4, A. Ryan, S. Schembri 11.

Luxol: J.P. Cordina, M. Mercieca 6, R. Azzopardi 4, A. Micallef Trigona 10, P. Apcev 29, A. Costa 5, N. Vasovic 17, T. Paris 8, A. Cremona, E. Caruana Montaldo, J.P. Bonnici 14, S. Capello.

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, L. Camilleri.

Final standings: Athleta 27; Luxol 23; Siġġiewi 22.

Tuesday, June 7: (final play-offs, game 1) 16.15 Athleta vs Luxol.