Athleta A-Z Electronics 61
Virtus Cynergi 75

(17-14, 17-12, 10-27, 17-22)

Virtus Cynergi are the new national champions after knocking Athleta A-Z Electronics from their perch with a stunning clean sweep in the best-of-five final series at the pavilion.

Virtus’s feat becomes even more significant considering they only came to life last year.

Athleta looked invincible at times. Naturally, they started favourites to retain the league title and add to the four trophies they had already won in this campaign.

No-one expected them to fall so dramatically in the play-offs but Virtus were up to the task and deserved the honour after showing the better qualities in the most crucial phase of the season.

For Virtus, forward Peter Shoults was voted most valuable player in the final series.

Pivot Anton Axiaq was sharp in the zone but Shoults, Shawn Pace and David Bugeja were all effective as they followed coach Paul Ferrante’s instructions to the book while pressing Athleta’s playmakers full court.

That factor was ultimately decisive along with the potential of Mike Breusewitz when it came to rebounds.

On Sunday, Athleta knew they could not afford another setback and with Michael Naudi looking in top form they held the upperhand till the interval and led 34-26.

But Virtus looked a different lot after emerging from the dressing room, surprising Athleta who fumbled several possessions and failed to add another point to their tally in the first five minutes after the restart.

Virtus grew in confidence and a series of three-pointers allowed them to lead 40-34.

Steve Schembri seemed to have lifted Athleta from a difficult moment but that was not the case as Breusewitz hit back strongly at the other end for Virtus to start the last ten minutes enjoying a nine-point lead – 53-44.

Athleta failed to stage a reaction and Virtus kept control – 56-44 in front with five minutes left.

Joe Galea’s men finally ran out of ammunition… they seemed a spent force. Virtus’s stunning success was completed.

Athleta: M. Naudi 12, R. Vella 3, F. Mifsud Bonnici, C. Patus 14, A. Aquilina 6, C. Baldacchino, O. Said 7, M. Gouder, M. Gauci Montanaro, I. Tanti 3, S. Schembri 16.

Virtus: S. Pace 9, D. Bugeja 5, R. Bonnici 5, A. Schembri 1, T. Grech, M. Breusewitz 22, A. Felice Pace 1, A. Axiaq 20, I. Buldakov, G. Coleiro 2, P. Shoults 10, F. Bartolo.

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, Z. Dobroseljevic.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.