Bupa Luxol 83 – Sliema Wanderers 76
(12-23, 32-49, 50-64, 73-73)

Dan il-konfront kien deciz wara perjodu ta’ hin barrani hekk kif il-hin regolamentari ntemm biz-zewg nahat f’parita ta’ 73-73 b’Luxol jirnexxielhom jiksbu rimonta qawwija fl-ahhar perjodu wara li kienu bdew ir-raba perjodu 50-64 minn taht. Fil-fatt Luxol dejjem kenu minn taht tul l-erba perjodi tal-partiat u kien biss fil-hin barrani li huma hadu l-vantagg li mbaghad zammew sa l-ahhar. Fil-hames minuti ta’ hin barrani kienu l-istess Luxol li komplew bil-mument pozittiv taghhom, u bi Sliema jbatu bil-players jispicca wbarra bil-fouls, biex ghalqu l-loghba bi break finali ta’ 7-0. Fl-ewwel perjodu, Sliema marru fuq quddiem meta fil-minuti tan-nofs huma kisbu run ta’ 13-1 b’Micahel naudi u Etienne Bezzina preciza ghal skor momentarju ta’ 21-8. Il-vantagg Slimiz kompla jikber sa wiehed massimu ta’ 39-19, vantagg ta’ ghoxrin punt, wara baskets minn Silvio Cassar kif ukoll free throws minn Adrian Micallef. Minkejja li Luxol kellhom xi punti minn Steve Schmebri u Robert Azzopardi, Sliema xorta baqghu fuq quddiem biex dahlu jistriehu 49-32 minn fuq. Kmieni fit-tieni taqsima dehru l-ewwel hjiel tar-rimonta ta’ Luxlol meta kisbu break ta’ 10-0 bi tmien free shots minn players differenti u basket minn Marco Mercieca. Madankollu Sliema zammew il-kalma u basket minn Omar said ghalaq it-tielet perjodu bl-iskor 64-50. Sa nofs l-ahhar perjodu kien ghad hemm distakk b’figura doppja, 71-61 izda fil-minuti ta’ wara luxol irnexxielhom jgibu l-iskor indaqs b’ghaxar punti konsekuttivi konkluzi bi 3-pointer minn Azzopardi. Micallef rega poga lil Pembroke minn fuq izda S. Schembri sforza l-hin barrani meta ppottja zewg freeshots ghal 73-73. L-istess Schembri pogga lil Luxol ghall-ewwel darba minn fuq fil-loghba b’azzjoni ta’ tliet punti fil-ftuh tal-hin barrani izda Sliema wiegbu bi 3-pointer minn Bezzina. Gara izda li minn hawn sa tmiem il-hin barrani kienu Luxol biss li kisbu l-punti bil-guard Chris Sammut jikseb l-ahhar hames punt ital-loghba li ssigillaw ir-rebha.

Another top game went into overtime, a most improbable one at that, considering the fact that Sliema were fully in command, and held comfortable leads over their opponenets. Fouls then built up, players went out of the game, and a good comeback by Luxol ensured an attractive match. Luxol won the game, but too many lost freethrows nearly brought their downfall. Joe Galea, Sliema's coach, was still spectator, given his suspension. Sliema opened up strongly, and with Michael Naudi in grand form, they took an 8-4 lead. Alan Borg's trey for Luxol was replied to immediately, by Naudi, as Sliema went on to tally up a 13-1 run, including an Etienne Bezzina trey. Luxol recovered slightly at the end of the session, but they were already trailing after the first session. In the second quarter Luxol were still being tormented by Sliema. Points were plentiful, as the Blues went into a 32-16 lead, after an Omar Said trey. Luxol tried to recover lost ground with their treys, and Steve Schembri sank two to Robert Azzopardi's one. Sliema were still in command, and Naudi confirmed his good spell with two treys of his own, late in the session. At the interval a 49-32 score favoured the Wanderers. After the break a brief balanced spell ensued, but when Duncan Cuschieri sank a trey for Sliema, it was Luxol who seemed galvanised, and a long spell in their favour, with eight consecitive free shots, ina 10-0 run, brought the game much closer. When Luxol threatened further Tino Riolo received a couple of assists, to slot home the hoops, and Sliema could breathe earier, having a 64-50 advantage, after three sessions. In the final quarter an 8-0 run gave Luxol some hope in their endeavour. Naudi picked up Sliema's spirits, with his fourth trey, to keep the Luxol side at bay, at 70-59. Dirk Schembri's free shots dragged Luxol closer, and with a couple of minutes to go it was a three-point match. Robert Azzopardi tied 71-71, with his trey, and in the last twelve seconds, Jonathan Zammit was expelled from Sliema's bench, after a flare up on court. Steve Schembri saved the game for Luxol, and the match went into overtime. In the extra period Steve Schembri put Luxol ahead, but they lost too many free throws, and Sliema, though without five playersd, fouled out or ejected, were still in with a chance. Chris sammut's free shots closed down the game, and Luxol's comeback was finally accomplished.

Luxol: C. Sammut 8, M. Mercieca 7, R. Azzopardi 13, M. Micallef, A. Borg 9, M. Portera, C. Pulis, D. Schembri 17, E. Caruana Montaldo 2, J. Jetson 1, S. Schembri 26.
Sliema: M. Naudi 28, J. Zammit, C. Calleja, E. Bezzina 9, T. Riolo 4, O. Said 12, A. Micallef 10, D. Cuschieri 5, K. Bladacchino 1, S. Cassar 7.
Refs: Emmanuel Mangani, Jean Paul Sammut, Stephen Micallef.

Floriana 77 – Qormi Kia 72
(17-13, 28-27, 40-43, 59-59, 63-63)

Loghba li kellha bzonn ta’ zewg perjodi ta’ hin barrani ntemmet b’success ghal Floriana, success li jimla lil dan it-team b’bosta kuragg wara l-ftuh ta’ l-istagun kemmxejn batut taghhom. Il-loghba fethet b’zewg 3-pointers mir-rebbieha permezz ta’ Don Ross u Glenn Gauci Grech waqt li Simon Cauchi kiseb xutt simili fuq in-naha l-ohra. Il-vantagg alterna bejn iz-zewg nahat izda wara li Qormi marru 12-8 minn fuq (b’Cauchi u Antoine Grech precizi), kienu Floriana li temmew l-ewwel perjodu 17-13 fil-vantagg wara punti ahharija minn Gareth Gilson u Roderick Mifsud. It-tieni perjodu kien bilancjat bhall-ewwel wiehed u ghal darba ohra z-zewg teamijiet gawdew minn vantagg f’hinijiet differenti sakemm il-horn, wara ghoxrin minuta, daqq bil-Furjanizi punt minn fuq, 28-27 wara basket minn Josef Paris. Zewg 3-pointers minn Adrain Baldacchino u Sam Farrugia ghenu lil Qormi, li hassew in-nuqqas ta’ Jean Paul Azzopardi, jiehdu l-vantagg lejn tmeim it-tielet perjodu u fl-ahhar battuti ta l-istess perjodu kienu free throws ta’ A. Badacchino li poggew lil Qormi 43-40 minn fuq. L-ahhar perjodu kien missielet u lejn it-tmiem, il-loghab kienet miftuha berah hekk kfi kein hemm parita, 56-56, fuq il-court. Hawnhekk Floriana marru tliet punti minn fuq wara freethrow minn Ross u basket ta’ Noel Falzon izda Qormi sfurzaw l-ewwel hin barrani meta Roberto Formosa kiseb freeshot waqt li Grech ppottja basket izda mbaghad kien sfortunat li falla freethrow krucjali f’dak il-hin. L-ewwel hin barrani kien ferm xott mill-punti hekk kif iz-zewg nahat kisbu erba’ putni rispettivament fejn din id-darba kienu Qormi li kellhom l-ahhar vantagg 63-62 izda Falzon kiseb freethrow minn tnejn u b’hekk kien hemm bzonn ta’ hin barrani iehor. Il-bilanc kompla bi shih anke f’dawn il-hames minuti ta’ loghob effettiv b’parita ta’ 72-72 wara basket minn Qomri ta’ Grech ftit mumenti mit-tmiem. Minn hawn sal-horn finali kienu Floriana li kisbu r-rebha meta Gauci Grech kisbe 3-pointer segwit minn fresshot waqt li Gilson kiseb l-ahhar punt tal-loghba.

These two sides provide the first overtime, a double one at that, in the top division. Both teams battled out a stalemate in normal time, though Qormi left it late, to tie the score. The first extra period was short on points, and left the issue wide open, for a second overtime. Floriana finally managed to forge ahead and keep in front, to decide the game in their favour. Tony Camilleri returned at the helm of Qormi, and so did their player, Nello Xuereb, but Jean Paul Azzopardi was missing. Brian Grech is still abroad for Floriana and Mark Pace seems to want a change of clubs. The game had an explosive start, with a brace of treys by Floriana, followed by another trey by Qormi. The Greens still kept their lead, as Don Ross followed up on his trey, but a 7-0 Qormi run, with Simon Cuchi the protagonist, also after his trey, gave them a 12-8 lead. Floriana responded well, and a Gareth Gilson trey started them off in a 9-1 run, holding their lead till the end of the session. Qormi went to just a point down at the start of the second quarter, but Floriana still held their lead for some time. An Antoine Grech tied the match, at 21-21. Gauci Grech restored Floriana's lead, but Roberto Formosa came off the bench for Qormi, with a couple of hoops. Don Ross tied again and Josef Paris put Floriana ahead just before the interval buzzer. Score at 28-27. After the break Gauci Grech's points gave Floriana some room but Qormi found a reply, as Adrian Baldacchino's trey helped in a 32-32 tie. Then it was a case of Floriana going in front and Qormi replying every time, until Roberto Formosa's trey turned the score around, and Qormi kept their noses in front. After three sessions it was a 43-40 score. In the fourth quarter Floriana first went in front, but free shots put Qormi ahead once more, at 47-44. Floriana twice tied the score, and then obtained an advantage. they were still holding on late in the agme, but Simon cauchi's trey tied the score again. The Greens grittily forge forward once more in the last minute, but Qormi managed to draw level in the last two seconds. through Antoine Grech. he last the subsequent free shot, and the game went into overtime. Both teams took time to settle down in this extra period. They both held a lead, but once more in the last seconds they were still deadlocked, and another overtime was in store. Players were now going out on fouls, on both sides. Floriana managed a double basket lead, but Antoine Grech's free throws dragged Qormi back again. Finally Glenn Gauci Grech's trey solve dthe issue, although Floriana added more points till the end of the amtch, which signalled the Greens's first win of the season.

Floriana: R. Spiteri, N. Falzon 11, J. Paris 4, B. Portelli 1, S. Cassar, V. Torbarov, B. Riolo 3, G. Gilson 11, R. Mifsud 11, G. Gauci Grech 17, D. Ross 19.
Qormi : W. Grixti 4, A. Grech 27, K. Scicluna 1, A. Xuereb 3, A. Camilleri, S. Farrugia 2, R. Formosa 11, J. Dalli 2, R. Baldacchino, C. Bugeja, S. Cauchi 13, A. Baldacchino 9. Refs : Gordon Barbara, Stephen Micallef, Alfred Carbonaro.

Siggiewi Smina 62 – Depiro 50
(14-8, 31-16, 48-33)

Siggiewi kisbu t-tieni rebha fil-kampjonat meta ghelbu lil Depiro, b’dawn ta’ l-ahhar jaghtu sfida ferm denja u, nehhi forsi t-tieni perjodu, qasmu sew il-loghob ma’ l-avversarji. B’team daqstant zaghzugh, din ik-prestazzjoni zgur li hija ta’ kuragg ghal dan it-team li qed jibbaza hafna fuq in-nursery tieghu stess. Kien hemm break ta’ 10-0 minn Siggiewi kmieni fil-loghba hekk kif David Camilleri u Peter Shoults kienu l-aktar precizi ghal skor parzjali ta’ 12-2. Wara li Emmanuel Lupo kiseb l-ewwel basket tat-tieni perjodu favur Depiro ghal puntegg ta’ 14-10, Siggiewi rrispondew mill-ewwel u kisbu break ferm influwenzali ta’ 13-0 mibdi minn Albert Spiteri u b’kontribut ukoll minn Jean Paul Bonnici minbarra Camilleri u Shoults. Fil-mistrieh kien hemm hmistax-il punt jifirdu liz-zewg nahat, 31-16 u ghalkemm Depiro hargu aktar ikkoncentrati u naqsu momentarjament id-distakk ghal ghaxar punti, 27-37 (wara 3-pointer minn Lupo), Siggiewi malajr ziedu fil-loghob u run ta’ 11-2 poggiethom 48-29 minn fuq fejn ic-centre addison Bonnici ghamel l-aktar hsara. L-ahhar perjodu kien maqsum bejn iz-zewg nahat b’Depiro jnaqqsu ftit l-izvantagg b’Roderick Vella jibda jsib idejh fis-shooting. Fuq in-naha opposta, Siggiewi dehru kalmi certi mir-rebha.

Siggiewi had to dig deep at times, in their second league win, as Depiro refused to let their more fancied opponents dominate the match. It was Siggiewi's second win over Depiro this season. Siggiewi held good leads throughout the game, but Depiro had patches where they crept close, but not enough, as Siggiewi saw to it that they enjoyed a decent advantage, to close down the game when danger threatened. Abraham Portelli ended his two game suspension, after his appeal was upheld, and will now play in Siggiewi's next game, but Peter Shoults is now doubtful, after his ankle injury sustained in this match. As expected there was a fast opening at both ends. David Camilleri put in a hoop for Siggiewi aftar just a handful of seconds from the start, but Depiro replied soon afterwards. Siggiewi then piled on the pressure, and a 10-0 run produced some delightful play, with Camilleri and Shoults at the forefront. Depiro managed to stem the break, posting points of their own, to draw closer. At the end of the session Siggiewi were still in front. In the second session, with Siggiewi's bench players on court, Depiro tried to make up the leeway. Siggiewi were calm enough to make good use of Albert Spiteri, as he helped in a 13-0 run, midway through the quarter. Depiro stopped the run but the damage had been done, although Antoine Costa ended the session for Depiro with a trey. At the interval Siggiewi still enjoyed a 31-16 score. After the break Siggiewi seemed to start all over again, butr this time Depiro had a ready answer. Emanuel Lupo was prominent in a 9-2 run, also sinking a trey, and Depiro went 27-37 behind. Siggiewi recovered, and with their starting five, they made a useful 11-2 run. Despite two late Depiro hoops, siggiewi still kept their original half time lead, at 48-33. In the final quarter Siggiewi were harrassed, as Depiro put ina strong challenge. A 9-2 opening run, including a Roderick Vella trey, brought them less than double figures behind. Louis Camilleri eased Siggiewi's doubts with a couple of hoops. Depiro were still insistent, and stayed close, but Siggiewi had enough experience to keep their opponents at a distance, and play out time till the end of the match.

Siggiewi : A. Spiteri 9, L. Camilelri 2, D. Camilleri 21, J. Doughty, M. Pajic, M. Barberi 2, P. Shoults 6, JP Bonnici 4, A. Bonnici 14, A. Huizer, E. Xuereb 4.
Depiro : R. Vella 10, C. Cassar 1, M. Sammut, G. Muscat 3, A. Aquilina, A. Tabone 3, M. Mallia 2, I. Tanti 4, E. Lupo 20, A. Costa 3, D. Agius 4.
Refs: Bernard Vassallo, Emmanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro