Gżira Athleta 73
Cynergi Depiro 59

(16-14, 15-16, 22-18, 20-11)

A nine-point margin between the two sides in the last quarter was the determining factor in this Louis Borg Cup semi-final first leg which sees Athleta starting today’s return in the driving seat.

The game was off to a balanced start but early in the second quarter Athleta hit an 11-0 run with accurate shooting from Michael Naudi and Peter Shoults.

A buzzer-beater shot helped Depiro close the deficit to just one point at half-time, 30-31.

Depiro regained the lead on a couple of occasions in the third quarter.

Yet, Athleta replied with another fine run as they notched nine consecutive points.

They held an eight-point advantage until David Bugeja nailed a very late long-distance shot to have the two sides at 53-48 with 10 minutes to go.

D.J. Mason helped Depiro move to within a basket but Athleta, also thanks to Naudi’s contribution, replied with a 9-0 spurt and this time they held on to their 14-point lead.

Athleta: M. Naudi 27, D. Camilleri 12, L. Stefanovic, P. Shoults 10, B. Zammit 6, J. Bos, S. Vincic, M.G. Montaldo, J. Whitehead 18.

Depiro: N. Grech, D. Bugeja 22, R. Bonnici 10, D. Schembri, D.J. Mason 19, T. Zammit, M. Mallia 2, A. Quiroz, K. Xuereb 4, M. Borg, D. Scafidi.

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Ozpolat, Z. Dobrosavljevic.

Floriana MCP Car Parks 105
Siġġiewi St Nicholas 49

(25-4, 22-22, 34-10, 24-13)

Floriana, as expected, showed superiority over their second-tier opponents for a comfortable cushion that makes today’s second leg a mere formality.

The Greens were in control from the opening quarter with Chad Patus, Nikola Vasovic and Shawn Pace all hitting points from the distance.

However, Siġġiewi found more paths towards their opponents’ basket in the second quarter and produced a series of accurate shots, especially through Roberto Alosco. They shared the exchanges but Floriana still led 47-26 at half-time.

When play restarted, Floriana once again took the upperhand to increase their lead to 81-36 with 10 minutes to go.

Siġġiewi had a good patch, with Slavko Opojevlic notching most of the points for them. But Floriana did not take long to reply as they worked towards reaching the century mark... and they did so late in the game.

Floriana: C. Patus 23, D. Agius 10, S. Pace 7, S. Borg 9, N. Vasovic 21, C. Calleja 12, A. Axiaq 10, N. Andrejevic 13.

Siġġiewi: J. Carter, H. Agius 10, R. Alosco 18, S. Opojevlic 7, Rob Camilleri, Ren Camilleri 4, J. Camilleri, K. Arvanitekis 10.

Referees: G. Barbara, Z. Dobrosavljevic, I. Marjanovic.

Women’s ties

Starlites Naxxar 58
Depiro 48

(9-8, 14-14, 22-10, 13-16)

A staunch start by Starlites in the second half was the most significant factor in this game. In fact, the score at half-time was very close with Starlites having a slender one-point lead, 23-22.

Yet, Starlites set off with 19 unanswered points when play restarted leaving Depiro with a difficult task to claw their way back.

Led by Patricia Arguello and Josephine Grima, Starlites managed to hold off Depiro’s last attempts to seal the win.

Starlites: J. Doughty 5, S. Farrugia 2, K. Pirotta, J. Micallef 2, J. Grima 18, P. Arguello 28, E. Magrin, S. Davies 1, A. Lupo 2.

Depiro: A. Mifsud, G. Mifsud 10, M. Balzaraviciute, S. Brincat 11, M. Bonett 12, C. Camilleri, N. Agius 8, M. Scicluna 3, H. Acreman, T. DeMartino 2, C. Ciantar 2.

Referees: C. Farrugia, E. Ozpolat.

Caffe Moak Luxol 46
Gżira Athleta 57

(10-8, 16-16, 11-15, 9-18)

This series also goes into the second game with a double-digit margin separating the sides, although the gap only materialised in the final quarter when Athleta had a 11-0 run which made all the difference.

The two teams shared the spoils at first with Luxol most of the time in the lead, albeit not by much, and Athleta also having Milica Stefanovic disqualified from the game after an altercation with an opponent.

The third quarter was tight but Athleta then had their central 11-0 run, with dangerous duo Amelia Simmons and Christina Grima leading the onslaught.

Luxol did manage to react but despite long-range shots from Sarah Pace and Steffi DeMartino, Athleta still managed to thwart Luxol’s attempts to bridge the deficit.

Luxol: S. Pace 14, B. Zammit, M. Mercieca 2, I. Baena Medina, M. Darmanin, S. DeMartino 9, K. Portelli, A. Calleja, P. Ellul 3,  L. Lessard 14, C. Curmi 4.

Athleta: M. Stefanovic 7,  C. Grima 13, M. Pollacco, L. Sciberras 1, A. Simmons 28, D.S. Hollier 3, A. Borg 5, J. Schembri, S. Vella, E. Pace.

Referees: G. Barbara, Z. Dobrosavljevic.