Sam Deguara pots the basket as Athleta’s Roderick Vella looks on. Photo: Wally GaleaGżira Athleta 61
BUPA Luxol 81
(26-18, 9-30, 10-23, 16-10)
Luxol opened the series against rivals Athleta with a hefty 20-point win for an important lead in this five-game series.
The game had various facets although Luxol’s 21-3 run in the central eight minutes of the third period was a highly influential factor in the game.
Athleta had a dream start netting seven consecutive shots from downtown with David Camilleri on fire with four treys, aided with a brace of similar long distance shots from Peter Shoults and another from Michael Naudi.
In these early minutes, Luxol’s reply came from Samuel Deguara and three-pointers from Pierce Cumpstone and Jean Paul Schembri.
Late free-throws from Naudi and Morakinyo Williams, who came off the bench to counter Deguara in height, helped Athleta to end the first quarter 26-18 ahead.
The lead changed hands midway in the second quarter after Schembri had an eight-point run.
Although Athleta reacted momentarily, a similar eight-point run, this time thanks to Cumpstone, helped Luxol extend their lead to 48-35 at half-time.
The third quarter was characterised with Luxol’s 21-3 run, started off by William Ahlberg, a partial score that helped them build a 69-40 lead.
The last quarter had Athleta trying to reduce the margin with Williams finding his touch at close range but Luxol were in control and took home the first win in the series.
Athleta: M. Naudi 11, R. Vella 1, D. Camilleri 12, M. Williams 12, P. Shoults 13, F. Mifsud Bonnici, B. Zammit 10, L. Stefanovic, S. Vincic, M. Gauci Montaldo, J. Whitehead 2.
Luxol: CJ Cordina 6, M. Mercieca, M. Sjoberg, D. Meli, J. Maistre, JP Schembri 17, K. Dimech 2, W. Ahlberg 9, P. Cumpstone 30, S. Deguara 17, S. Cappello.
Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, I. Simic.
Cynergi Depiro 63
Floriana MCP Car Parks 60
(11-18, 20-10, 9-13, 23-19)
A three-point shot from the left corner of the court by Robert Bonnici, just a second from the buzzer, determined this tie in favour of Depiro.
Floriana looked favourites to win after taking the lead at the end of the third quarter and then opening a ten-point lead – 54-44 – with four minutes to go.
Yet, Depiro had other thoughts and five three-pointers, two from Bonnici on either side of three consecutive DJ Mason treys, re-opened the game.
The start was all in Floriana’s favour with hoops from Anton Axiaq, Shawn Pace and Nikola Vasovic helping the Greens open a maximum 22-11 advantage.
Depiro’s reply produced two 10-point runs which helped them change ends 31-28 in front, extended to 38-28 as Floriana hit a dearth of points in the first six minutes.
The Greens, however, went from one extreme to another as then they had a 15-0 run spread over two quarters while Depiro suddenly had a six-minute barren patch.
DJ Mason stopped Floriana’s run with his first basket on his way to a personal tally of 14 points in the last quarter. Yet the Greens still managed to hold on to a 54-44 lead.
The late Mason three-pointers tied the game. Floriana fluffed their last possession and Depiro made good use of the turnover with Bonnici sinking the killer trey with one second to go.
Depiro: N. Grech, D. Bugeja 8, R. Bonnici 17, D. Schembri, A. Aquilina, DJ Mason 25, T. Zammit, M. Mallia, A. Quiros 2, K. Xuereb 9, M. Borg, D. Scafidi 2.
Floriana: C. Patus 23, S. Pace 3, S. Borg 8, N. Vasovic 16, C. Calleja, A. Axiaq 10, A. Micallef Trigona, N. Andrejevic.
Referees: E. Mangani, I. Simic, I. Marjanovic.