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Sliema Wanderers 73 – Depiro 54 (17-13, 41-24, 55-37)
Ghalkemm kien hemm distakk finali ta’ 19-il punt bejn dawn iz-zewg nahat, il-partita kienet mexxejja hafna u kien prattikament fit-tieni perjodu (mirbuha 24-11) li Sliema kienu ferm aktar superjuri u ghamlu pass decisiv lejn ir-rebha.
Ghal darba bil-coach sospiz, l-istess bhall-guard taghhom Omar Said, Sliema fethu precizi ghal vantagg inizzjali ta’ 12-4 b’Michael Naudi jmexxi lil shabu.
Wara time-out, Depiro tjiebu fuq in-naha offensiva u resqu sa punt il-boghod, 13-14 wara punti minn Emmauel Lupo u Antoine Costa.
Madankollu 3-pointer minn Duncan Cuschieri ghen lil Sliema jaghlqu l-perjodu 17-13 minn fuq. Fl-ewwel minuti tat-tieni perjodu Sliema, li gimgha qabel rebhu s-Super Cup, hasdu lill-avversarji b’run totali ta’ 14-3 ghal puntegg ta’ 31-16 fejn Naudi u Silvio cassar kienu l-aktar li wettqu hsara.
Minkejja li Depiro waqfu n-nixfa bi 3-pointer mill-guard veloci Roderick vella, Sliema baqghu kmandi u punti minn Adrian Micallef ghenuhom jaghlqu t-taqsima 41-24 minn fuq.
Sa nofs it-tielet perjodu l-vantagg ta’ Sliema tela ghal 25 punt, 55-30, izda perjodu pozittiv minn Depiro, fi tmiem l-istess perjodu u fil-ftuh ta’ l-ahhar perjodu, rahom jiksbu break ta’ 11-0 b’baskets minn Vella, Lupo u Clint Cassar ghal 55-41.
Gara izda li t-tamiet ta’ Depiro sfaxxaw fix-xejn hekk kif Sliema rrispondew bi break massimu tal-loghba ta’ 15-0 b’Cassar protagonista u anke b’punti miz-zaghzugh Clayton Calleja biex kien hemm distakk massimu ta’ 29 punt fejn iz-zewg nahat, 70-41. Fl-ahhar minuti Depiro ghamlu l-sikor ftit aktar rispettabli bi 3-pointers minn Costa u Andrew Aquilina kif ukoll punti ohra minn Vella.
Fi tmiem il-loghba Depiro resqu protest fuq ir-rizultat tal-loghba, liema protest milli jidher idur dwar il-presenza tal-coach ta’ Sliema, li kien sospiz, fid-dressing room qabel u waqt il-loghba.


Sliema disposed of a competitive Depiro side, who made life difficult at first, but then fell behind as Sliema applied the pressure on their opponents. A masterly performance by Michael Naudi highlighted Sliema's win, as they continued on after their Super Cup win over Luxol a week ago.
Sliema had Omar Said missing, from his sending off last week, though his case has still to be discussed before the Disciplinary Board. Coach, Joe Galea, is still out on a two month suspension, and his presence in the Basketball pavilion was the cause of a protest by Depiro at the end of the match.
Depiro started on a cautious note, falling 4-12 behind, after some powerful Michael Naudi play. When Depiro became more adventurous, and man-marked their opponents, they started to come back, and Antoine Costa's trey helped to bring them just a point down, before a Duncan Cuschieri trey gave Sliema some room.
In the second quarter Sliema opened in a determined mood, and some strong play rewarded them with a 0-1 run, as, once more, they went clear of Depiro, who tried to hit back, but their points were far between, though they managed a Roderick Vella trey. In fact Vella potted nearly all of Depiro's points in this session. Sliema then shifted to Adrian Micallef, who came off the bench, and his points helped his side to a 41-24 half time advantage.
After the break Sliema did not allow Depiro to creep near, as both sides replied to each other's points. Sliema went on an 8-0 run, to push Depiro further behind, but the Mtarfa outfit recovered. Till the end of the session they managed to pull back with a 7-0 run, which they started with a Roderick Vella trey. With a quarter to go it was 55-37 to Sliema.
Depiro put in two hoops at the start, to make it more interesting, but Sliema didn't take long to get back into their stride again. A good 15-0 run, with a Michael Naudi trey, completely killed off any hopes of Depiro making a close game of it. Depiro reacted at the end, to hike up their score somewhat. At the end of the match came Depiro's protest.

Sliema: M. Naudi 20, J. Zammit, C. Calleja 3, E. Bezzina 4, J. Galea, T. Riolo, A. Micallef 13, D. Cuschieri 9, K. Baldacchino 3, S. Cassar 17.
Depiro: R. Vella 19, C. Cassar 4, M. Sammut, G. Muscat, A. Aquilina 3, A. Tabone 4, I. Tanti 3, E. Lupo 4, A. Costa 11, M. Mallia 4, D. Agius 2.
Refs: Bernard Vassallo, Stephen Micallef, Jean Paul Sammut.

Siggiewi Smina 87 – Floriana 45 (25-10, 43-19, 59-33)
Gimghatejn wara li rebhu l-MBA Shield, Siggiewi rritornaw ghall-loghob u bdew il-kampjonat b’rebha meritata u mistennija kontra Floriana. Dawn ta’ l-ahhar dehru li wrew titjib mill-prestazzjonijiet li kellhom fis-Shield u ghalkemm fadal bosta affarijiet li jridu jirrangaw, ghandhom ghalfejn ihrasu l-quddiem b’certu ottimizmu jekk dejjem jippreparaw ruhhom bis-serjeta u ma jwettqux l-istess zbalji.
Il-ftuh tal-loghba kien kollu ta’ marka Siggiewi, li kellhom lil Abraham Portelli sospiz waqt li Louis Camilleri ma giex utilizat, hekk kif huma marru 15-3 minn fuq bil-guards David Camilleri u Peter Shoults precizi.
Id-dhul tal-veteran Don Ross ta ftit spinta lil Floriana u ghalkemm kellhom hames punti miz-zaghzugh Gareth Gilson, il-Furjanizi (li kellhom lil Brian Grech u Mark Pace nieqsa) xorta kellhom ibaxxu rashom ghal qawwa ta’ l-avversarji li kmieni fit-tieni perjodu kienu 29-10 minn fuq.
Il-minuti tan-nofs fit-tieni perjodu raw mument favorevoli ghal Floriana b’run minima ta’ 9-6 izda Siggiewi malajr regghu hadu kmand u dahlu jistriehu 43-19 minn fuq.
It-tielet perjodu kien l-aktar wiehed bilancjat (mirbuh 16-14 minn Siggiewi) u matul dawn l-ghaxar minuti ta’ loghob effettiv kien hemm tmien punti minn Albert Spiteri ghar-rebbieha waqt li Noel Falzon kellu zewg baskets ghal Floriana b’Ross jikseb ukol it-tieni 3-pointer tieghu fil-loghba. Break ta’ 11-0 fl-ahhar perjodu rega’ wera s-superjorita ta’ Siggiewi.
F’dan l-ahhar perjodu kien hemm sensiela ta’ xuttijiet precizi minn Michael Barberi waqt li Anthony Huizer kiseb tliet baskets u z-zaghzugh Jean Paul Bonnici kompla jippottja l-punti sabiex spicca l-aqwa skorer tal-loghba.


As expected, Siggiewi had no difficulty to subdue Floriana, in their first league match, since winning the Shield. A strong opening session and another useful quarter, with their subs on court, helped Siggiewi to make sure early on in the match. Floriana never stopped trying, against superior odds, and must be pleased with their score.
Floriana had a changed side from their last game, with Brian Grech, Mark Pace and other players missing. Siggiewi had Abraham Portelli in his month's suspension, and Louis Camilleri on the ebnch throughout the whole match. They also introduced young Milan Pajic.
David Camilleri opened the proceedings for Siggiewi, with a couple of hoops. Floriana's opening basket started off a Siggiewi 9-0 run, as they profited from fast breaks. The Greens came more into the picture as the game progressed, and Siggiewi started to get over-confident. However a 7-0 run in Siggiewi's favour kept a comfortable lead.
The second quarter was a niggly one, short of points at first. Siggiewi's bench players were on court, putting in two hoops. Floriana replied through free shots, before the two sides sank treys, Matthew Shoults at one side and Don Ross the other. Jean Paul Bonnici was the main points-getter for Siggiewi, although he also lost favourable opportunities. Another 7-0 run till the end of the session saw Siggiewi's lead increase once more. At the interval it was 43-19.
After the break Siggiewi made two hoops, but then Floriana had their best patch, with a trio of baskets. Siggiewi changed their whole side , bringing back seasoned players and young Milan Pajic. A 7-0 run by Albert S[piteri and David Camilleri stretched their lead before Don Ross' trey for Floriana. After three sessions Siggiewi were 59-33 in front.
In the last quarter an early two-basket opening by Floriana only served to spur Siggiewi on to better endeavours. An 11-0 run and a Peter Shoults trey started the side off and then Michael Barberi came on court and made baskets with ease, including a trey. The rest of the game was an open one, with both sides more intent on attack than defence.

Siggiewi: A. Spiteri 10, L. Camilleri, D. Camilleri 14, J. Doughty, M. Pajic, M. Barberi 11, P. Shoults 12, JP Bonnici 19, A. Bonnici 6, M. Shoults 7, A. Huizer 6, E. Xuereb 2. Floriana: R. Spiteri, N. Falzon 6, J. Paris, B. Riolo 6, S. Cassar, G. Gilson 10, R. Mifsud 3, G. Gauci Grech 6, D. Ross 14.
Refs: Bernard Vassallo, Emmanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro

Bupa Luxol 75 – Qormi Kia 34 (20-4, 47-9, 61-26)
Luxol ma tantx sabu difficulta sabiex jibdew l-impenji taghhom fil-kamjonat b’rebha meta ghelbu lil Qormi, b’dawn ta’ l-ahhar ikollhom jghaddu minghajr is-servizzi tal-coach taghhom, Tony Camilleri, li kien indispost.
Zewg 3-pointers mill-aqwa skorers taghhom, Steve Schembri u Alan Borg, wittew it-triq ghal break ta’ 10 punti miksub minn Luxol fl-ahhar ta’ l-ewwel perjodu fejn kien hemm ukoll tliet baskets mill-vicin tan-naturalizzat Malti, Jide Jetson.
Bi break iehor ta’ ghaxar punti izda fil-ftuh tat-tieni perjodu, Luxol telghu ghal vantagg ta’ 30-4 u ghalkemm Qormi wiegbu momentarjament permezz tac-centres taghhom, Antoine Grech u Jason Dalli, Luxol baqghu jiddettaw il-loghob u ftit wara kisbu break iehor, din id-darba wiehed massimu ta’ 17-0 fejn minbarra x-xuttijiet mill-boghod minn Robert Azzopardi, kien hemm ukoll sensiela ta’ baskets minn Dirk Schembri.
Fil-mistrieh kien hemm distakk kbir ta’ 38-il punt bejn iz-zewg nahat biex it-tieni taqsima kienet pjuttost formalita bil-Qriema jirnexxielhom ukoll jirbhu t-tielet perjodu 17-14 biz-zaghzugh Sam Farrugia jippottja hames punti.
Luxol ghalqu l-loghba fuq nota, ghal darba ohra, pozittiva meta kisbu ghaxar punti minghajr risposta.

Stung by their Super Cup defeat by Sliema, last weekend, Luxol returned for their first league game, and overwhelmed Qormi, making sure in the first two sessions. Qormi were having a hard time, but complacency set in on Luxol's part, and this helped Qormi to avoid a heavier defeat. In this game Qormi's Keith Scvicluna was celebrating his award of the best player for last season's 2nd Division.
For this game Qormi were without their coach, Tony Camilleri, and ex-player, Michael Amaira, filled in. They also had Jason Dalli hampered by knee trouble.
Luxol opened up with an Alan Borg trey, but then play went on till nearly mid-session, before we had a Qormi reply, through the returning Adrian Baldacchino, who missed their previous game. Steve Schembri then sank another trey for the Violets, as they went on a good 17-2 run, which they dragged on till the end of the quarter.
Luxol didn't rest on their laurels in the second session, and a 10-0 run, with more treys by Steve Schembri and Alan Borg, opened up their good lead further. Qormi made a reaction, but they were still being pressed by a determined Luxol side, who notched up another long run, a 17-0 one this time, which included two more treys by Robert Azzopardi, and another Borg long one. Dirk Schembri pitched in with half a dozen personal points. With less than a second to go till the the interval Roberto Formosa broke the sequence with a couple of free shots. Score at 47-9, highlighting Luxol's dominance.
After the break Luxol's game lost its co-ordination, and became more individualistic. Qormi took the opportunity to share the play, with Sam Farrugia in the thick of things. Antoine Grech sank a trey for Qormi, closely followed by Alan Borg, with his fourth, for Luxol. Qormi ended the session with a series of free throws, for a 61-26 score, with a quarter to go.
Play was still energetic, but the points dwindled down, for the first part of the session. Their young players were given their moment, amidst constant changing fron both benches. Luxol recovered at the end, to post a 10-0 run in the last stages, after Qormi's last points, through a Reuben Baldacchino trey.

Luxol: C. Sammut 4, M. Mercieca 4, R. Azzopardi 8, M. Micallef, A. Borg 16, M. Portera, C. Pulis, D. Schembri 14, E. Caruana Montaldo, J. Jetson 13, S. Schembri 16. Qormi; W. Grixti 2, A. Grech 6, K. Scicluna 1, S. Farrugia 7, A. Camilleri, JP Azzopardi 2, R. Formosa 2, J. Dalli 4, R. Baldacchino 3, C. Bugeja, S. Cauchi 2, A. Bladacchino 5.
Refs: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara, Emmanuel Mangani


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