BUPA Luxol 76
Cynergi Depiro 89

(29-13, 13-28, 18-25, 16-23)

This top-of-the-table clash resulted in a Depiro victory as they hit back after a poor start to go top of the standings with two games remaining in the regular season.

Luxol, in search of their fifth consecutive win, had a very strong start, opening an early double digit lead with Samuel Deguara fully in command under both boards, assisted by Pierce Cumpstone, and guard CJ Cordina.

Depiro regrouped in the second quarter, led by centre DJ Mason and the long distance pots from Andrew Aquilina and Robert Bonnici. The margin between the two sides at the interval was down to a bare minimum, 42-41 for Luxol.

The lead went Depiro’s way at the start of the second half and although Luxol came back with points from Keith Dimech, short range hoops from Mason and Alvaro Quiros helped Depiro to a 10-2 run.

Luxol were now shorn of Deguara, on the bench with foul trouble, and also missing William Ahlberg. Yet, Cumpstone was fighting hard to keep them in the game.

The last ten minutes were tight.

Depiro were replying to each and every Luxol effort until consecutive treys from Aquilina and Mason pushed the side to a cushion lead which they increased following successful late free-throws when Luxol were trying to stop the clock.

Luxol: CJ Cordina 17, M. Mercieca 4, J. Maistre Melillo, JP Schembri 3, K. Dimech 12,  P. Cump-stone 22, S. Deguara 16, S. Cappello 2.

Depiro: D. Bugeja 18, R. Bonnici 8, D. Schembri, A. Aquilina 9, DJ Mason 30, T. Zammit, M. Mallia, A. Quiros 10, K. Xuereb 14, M. Borg , D. Scafidi.

Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, C. Farrugia.

Shooting: FT – L: 8/15, D: 16/23. 2Pt – L:22/46, D: 23/44. 3Pt – L: 8/21, D: 9/20.

Hibernians 53
Gżira Athleta 65

(14-17, 13-20, 14-13, 12-15)

Athleta joined Luxol in second place in the standings after a merited win over Hibernians who need full points from their remaining three games to stand a fair chance for the play-offs.

There was a ten-point spread in Athleta’s favour at the break and this margin remained even till the end of the third quarter.

Hibs did manage to creep in at the start of the last quarter but Athleta soon hit their stride with points from Josiah Whitehead who is now joined by a second foreigner in Athleta’s ranks – Mike Williams.

The 213cm ex-England under-20 international joined Athleta late last week from French regional league side Saint Francois.

The 28-year-old managed some playing time and grabbed a few points against Hibs to help his new side to a fifth league win.

Hibs: P. Attard, M. Hampton, E. Xuereb, L. Farrugia 7, S. Attard, I. Bonett, K. Sultana, A. Micallef 8, M. Matijevic 7, S. Vella, F. Mariani 4, A. Lizaur 27.

Athleta: M. Naudi 23, R. Vella 9, D. Camilleri, M. Williams 8, P. Shoults 9, F. Mifsud Bonnici, B. Zammit 5, S. Vincic, J. Whitehead 11.

Referees: E. Mangani, Z. Dobrosavljevic, I. Marjanovic.

Shooting: FT – H: 6/10, A: 16/20. 2Pt – H:19/44, A: 20/61. 3Pt – H: 3/20, A: 3/11.

Floriana MCP Car Parks 94
Starlites Naxxar 72

(23-15, 16-18, 32-13, 23-26)

Floriana returned to winning ways as they registered a double over Starlites to revive their hopes for a play-off spot.

Floriana’s win materialised after a superior performance in the third quarter, spurred by Shawn Pace and his series of hoops.

Pity that the Greens’ guard had to somewhat mar his match by getting fouled out for showing dissent to match officials.

Floriana started on a sound footing following baskets from Chad Patus and although Jacob Formosa and Nikola Stankovic hit back for Starlites, the Greens still were comfortably in front at the end of the first quarter.

The margin came down to six points, 39-33, at the interval after Starlites had hoops from Ivan Mitrovic.

After the change of ends, Pace burst out offensively and his points were music for his team as Floriana extended their lead to plus 25, 71-46, with ten minutes to go.

Although Starlites did react with a 13-0 run, Floriana were not to be perturbed and points from Nikola Andrejevic fully ascertained their victory.

Floriana: C. Patus 25, S. Pace 22, S. Borg 8, N. Vasovic 6, C. Calleja 10, A. Axiaq 6, A. Micallef Trigona 5, N. Andrejevic 12.

Starlites: I. Mitrovic 15, R. Carabott 4, L. Vella, A. Schembri 2, M. Azzopardi, M. Falzon 2, A. Felice Pace 6, N. Stankovic 16, J. Formosa 27, M. Vella, I. Felice Pace.

Referees: B. Vassallo, C. Farrugia, I. Marjanovic

Shooting: FT – F: 9/16, S: 15/23. 2Pt – F:32/62, S: 21/48. 3Pt – F: 7/14, S: 5/26.

Standings
Depiro (6-2) 14; Athleta (5-3) 13; Luxol (5-3) 13; Floriana (4-3) 11; Starlites (2-6) 10; Hibernians (1-6) 8.

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