Falken Cynergi Virtus and Floriana Café Del Mar will contest the final of the St James Hospital Shield after seeing off BUPA Luxol and Gżira Athleta in two high-scoring semi-finals last weekend.
Falken Cynergi Virtus 79
BUPA Luxol 76
(10-19, 21-12, 27-19, 21-26)
Virtus met strong resistance from Luxol whose last-session comeback was not enough to make up for the damage they had suffered in the third quarter.
Luxol had Marco Mercieca back in their line-up but Steve Capello was unavailable due to work commitments overseas.
After a balanced start, individual play and substitutions by Virtus played into the hands of Luxol who notched the last 11 points of the first quarter to lead 19-10.
Virtus upped their game as the second quarter got underway. Led by Chris Santo and Maltese-Australian Jacob Formosa, who was making his debut, the champions cancelled out the deficit to go 29-27 ahead but Luxol levelled at 31-31 going into half-time.
The third quarter was a lively affair with one team, then the other, forging ahead in the first five minutes.
An 8-2 run helped Virtus to establish a nine-point advantage, 50-41, but two three-pointers by Colt Fason – who finished as the game’s top scorer with 33 points – narrowed the gap for Luxol, 50-48.
Despite losing David Bugeja to injury, Virtus recovered to go eight points in front, 58-50.
Luxol refused to lie down. They enjoyed the better start to the last quarter to trim the leeway to three points, 60-57.
The game remained tight with Virtus holding on to their slender lead.
With a few minutes remaining, Virtus looked well placed to win as they had a seven-point lead but a successful shot from outside the arch and free-throws from Chris Julian Cordina dragged Luxol back into contention, 77-76.
However, Virtus eventually sealed their place in the semi-finals with two free-throws from debutant Formosa.
Cynergi Virtus: S. Pace 6, D. Bugeja 4, R. Bonnici 5, D. Camilleri, J. Formosa 24, A. Felice Pace, C. Santo 29, F. Bartoli, P. Shoults 11, T. Grech.
BUPA Luxol: C.J. Cordina 18, C. Fason 33, J. Willoughby 4, J.P. Schembri 6, K. Dimech, T. Paris 2, M. Mercieca 13, J. Maistre, J.P. Bonnici.
Referees: E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro, Z. Doborsevljevic.
Gżira Athleta 74
Floriana Café Del Mar 83
(10-14, 23-14, 18-19, 18-22 – 5-14)
Floriana finally dismissed the bold challenge of Gżira Athleta in extra-time to set up a final clash with Virtus.
Moe Briggs made his debut for Athleta who had another foreigner in their ranks, Dutchman Daal Wiersun.
Floriana were boosted by the return of Nigel Sultana.
The match got off to a slow start with Floriana managing to open a 14-10 lead in the closing minutes of the first quarter.
With Briggs coming more into the picture, Athleta recouped several rebounds after erratic Floriana shots to gain the upperhand.
They moved 30-22 ahead but substitutions allowed Floriana to make up ground as they changed ends only five points behind, 33-28.
The third quarter developed into a nailbiting affair with Athleta enjoying a good patch after the fifth minute to lead 47-36. Once again, Floriana hit back to reduce the gap to four points, 51-47, for the last 10 minutes.
After Athleta extended their lead, Floriana made a reaction. They took advantage of Briggs’s substitution to move to within a basket of Athleta, 58-56.
Wiersun was the first Athleta player to be fouled out. He was soon followed by playmaker Roderick Vella.
Joe Galea’s team retained a slight lead but Floriana, who had to change Chad Patus as the former Athleta player needed medical attention, managed to force extra-time thanks to Anton Axiaq’s second attempt with three seconds left.
Floriana seized the initiative after Lee Ross stole possession from Billy Zammit.
Back came Athleta thanks mainly to Briggs’s effort but their hopes fizzled out when they lost Adrian Micallef and Briggs to five fouls.
Floriana capitalised and with Patus back on court they pulled clear to knock the holders out of the competition.
Gżira Athleta: M. Naudi 18, R. Vella 3, M. Briggs 40, M. Giusti, I. Buldakov, B. Zammit 6, A. Micallef , L. Stefanovic, S. Vicic, N. Lubrano 3, D. Wiersun 4.
Floriana: C. Patus 32, D. Borg, L. Ross 14, N. Sultana 14, S. Borg 2, A. Portelli 2, N. Vasovic 9, C. Calleja, A. Axiaq 8, A. Micallef Trigona 2, O. Shamala, N. Andrejevic.
Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, A. Carbonaro.
St James Shield final: Sunday – 16.30 Cynergi Virtus vs Floriana Cafe del Mar.