Enemalta Shield Grupp B

Depiro 80 – Floriana 37
(21-12, 12-7, 19-10, 28-8)

(TMI) In a match which was expected to be a close encounter, it was Depiro who mastered Floriana with their powerful and high-velocity play. Floriana's crop of veterans couldn't keep up with Depiro's style of play, and started falling behind in the second quarter, Depiro now face Siggiewi in their semi final, come next weekend.
Depiro stuck to the same formation that lost to Luxol, whereas Floriana made just one change, with the absence of Robert Spiteri, bringing in Stanley Cassar, missing from the local scene for a number of years. At first Floriana tried to contain Depiro's fast and furious play, and replied to their first two hoops. Depiro then managed to open a lead before the Greens could answer back. A Roderick Vella trey gave Depiro a 12-8 lead, and then Emanuel Lupo came off the bench and grabbed a series of hoops, as Depiro broke free, at the end of the session.
In the second session Floriana were still chasing, although they managed to limit their opponents at first. Midway through the quarter Roderick Vella's sheer speed gave Depiro a couple of hoops to extend their lead, and they could control the situation as Floriana's attempys at basket failed to find their mark. At the interval Depiro held a comfortable advantage, on a 33-19 score, with Floriana unable to counteract to Depiro's fast play.
After the break it was worse for the Greens. A 9-2 run for Depiro put more space between the two teams, and then it was the turn of Clint Cassar, fleet of foot, to leave the Floriana defenders stranded, although Gareth Gilson replied partially for Floriana. At the end of the third session it was a 53-29 score.
In the final session, as Floriana tried to be more positive, up popped David Agius for Depiro, and consecutive strikes, including a trey made a shambles of the Greens' defensive set-up. Floriana couldn't find any answer, as Agius kept pouring them in. Flroiana did manage a contribution late in the quarter, but they were way behind, as Depiro coasted home, for their first seasonal win.

Depiro kisbu post fis-semifinali tas-Shield wara li warrbu l-isfida ta’ Floriana b’rebha b’distakk ferm akbar minn dak finali li wiehed seta stenna qabel dan il-konfront.
Dawn iz-zewg nahat kienu gejjin minn telfa rispettiva kontra Luxol u ghalhekk riedu wkoll iduqu l-ewwel success stagjonali.
Il-partita fethet bilancjata bi Floriana jzommu kuntatt mill-vicin sa tmien minuti loghob bl-iskor ikun 12-10 favur Depiro fejn ghal ta’ l-ahhar mill-ewwel beda jkun strumentali Roderick Vella waqt li l-veteran Don Ross kien l-akbar theddida offensiva tal-Furjanizi.
Id-dhul tac-centru Emmanuel Lupo ta aktar spinta offensive lil Depiro u dan il-player kiseb disa’ punti rispettivi tat-team li bihom huma ghalqu l-ewwel perjodu 21-12 minn fuq.
Floriana, madankollu, regghu tjiebu ghall-hafna mit-tieni perjodu bil-guards Bernardo Riolo, Brian Grech u Noel Falzon jtellghu l-ballun.
Gara izda li bhal-ewwel perjodu, Depiro regghu kienu precizi fl-ahhar mumenti tal-perjodu u sitt punti wara xulxin minn Vella ghamlu l-puntegg 33-19 favurihom fil-mistrieh.
Ir-reazzjoni mistennija minn Floriana, din is-sena mmexxijin minn Paul Ferrante, ma waslitx. Anzi Depiro rregistraw run decisiv ta’ 15-2 li bih prattikamnet ghalqu l-loghba. Hawnhekk iz-zaghzugh Clint Cassar spikka bi tmien punti personali.
L-ahhar perjodu kien pjuttost formalita b’Depiro jzidu sew il-vantagg fejn kellhom lil David Agius li sploda b’19-il punt f’ghaxar minuti u anke spicca l-aqwa skorer b’25 punt personali. It-team ta’ Adrian Mifsud kellu kull element fl-iskwadra li nizzel ismu fost l-iskorers.

Depiro: R. Vella 13, C. Cassar 8, M. Samut 2, G. Muscat 1, A. Aquilina 2, A. Tabone 2, M. Ciantar 2, I. Tanti 5, E. Lupo 18, M. Mallia 2, D. Agius 25.
Floriana: B. Riolo 4, N. Falzon 3, J. Paris 2, M. Pace 2, B. Portelli, S. Cassar, V. Torbarov, B. Grech 2, G. Gison 6, R. Mifsud, G. Gauci Grech 5, D. Ross 13.
Refs : Bernard Vassallo, Stephen Micallef