Bupa Luxol 70 Depiro 69
(12-23)(18-10)(20-18)(20-18)

This was a ding-dong game, with Luxol just edging through, after having to wait for nearly two and a half sessions to take a lead. When it seemed as if they had turned the corner, Depiro's last efforts very nearly gave them the spoils. Luxol just hung on grimly, to remain in the hunt for another honour.
Depiro will surely bemoan their lost free shots, when losing only by a single point. Depiro had a furious start, racing into a 6-1 lead, thanks to David Agius' accurate side shooting.
Luxol settled down and Steve Schembri began to hike up their score, but Emanuel Lupo had a ready reply for Depiro, and his points from the paint, and also a trey, put Depiro 13-7 ahead.
The Schembri brothers grabbed the points for Luxol till the end of the session, but Roderick Vella came up with a couple of hoops, and Depiro had a good lead after the end of the opening quarter. In the second session Luxol's reaction was expected, but Favid Agius was still hot for Depiro, and his second trey helped his side to a good 29-16 advantage.
Luxol found their feet and a 10-3 run brought them within the distance, with the Schembri brothers still very much in evidence. Depiro hung on, despite Luxol's determined attitude, and at the interval they held a 33-30 lead. After the break Depiro still kept their opponents at bay, with Luxol replying to every Depiro incursion.
A Robert Azzopardi trey for the Violets permitted Luxol to go near again, and then Dirk Schembri tied for them on three occasions, before Marco Mercieca put Luxol ahead for the first time in the match.
When the Violets increased their lead depiro had a quick reaction, and a 6-0 session-ending run gave them a slim 51-50 lead after three sessions. In the last quarterSteve Schembri gave the lead back to Luxol, but Emanuel Lupo had a ready reply. Luxol finally took over, and an 11-2 run, with a Steve Schembri trey, put them 65-57 ahead, halfway through the session.
Depiro still came back staunchly, to draw level. Luxol grittily went ahead again, with Depiro going to within a point. They had their chances at the end, but Luxol just held out, for a semi final spot.

LUXOL: 2 C. Sammut, 15 M. Mercieca, 7 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 6 A. Borg, C. Pulis, 18 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 1 J. Jetson, 21 S. Schembri
DEPIRO: 20 R. Vella, C. Cassar, M. Sammut, 4 G. Muscat, A. Aquilina, 12 A. Tabone, M. Mallia, 17 E. Lupo, A Costa. I Tanti, 16 D. Agius
REFEREES: Gordon Barbara, Jean Paul Sammut

Siggiewi Smina 56 Sliema Wanderers 80
(19-20)(8-27)(18-18)(11-15)

Siggiewi were handed their first seasonal defeat, as Sliema took sweet revenge on their previous two defeats at the hands of their opponents.
Sliema were well-prepared for this match, but it was a disastrous second session for Siggiewi that opened the floodgates for a strong Sliema win. Their numerous treys also helped to put more pressure on a Siggiewi side that was lacking their usual verve. Before the match Siggiewi's Louis Camilleri was presented with the Player of the Year award for last season. Siggiewi had Abraham Portelli back, after his suspension, but Peter Shoults was work-tied and Michael Barberi was also missing. Sliema had Jeffrey Gatt absent again, and Jonathan Zammit was supended.
Ray Muscat was on Sliema's bench, in lieu of the suspended coach, Joe Galea.
Both sides made a trey at thestart, Omar Said for Sliema and David Camilleri for Siggiewi. Sliema then took over, and a 9-0 run, with an Adrian Micallef trey, gave them a useful lead.
Siggiewi got stuck in, and a better 14-0 run put them in front. Sliema recovered with free throws, and kept their lead till the end of the session, on a minimal advantage. In the second quarterSliema made a strong opening, and Siggiewi were badly hit with a 16-0 run, including a couple of treys by the new-entry, Duncan Cuschieri.
Siggiewi were reeling but tried a recovery, which was hampered by two more Omar Said treys. When Siggiewi replied again they were hit again by Cuschieri treys, and Sliema were fully 47-27 ahead at the interval.
After the break Adrian Micallef kept Sliema buoyant at first, but Siggiewi began to claw themselves back with an 8-0 run, snapped by an Etienne Bezzina trey, for a Sliema 52-39 lead. Siggiewi pressed further, but Abraham Portelli's trey was neutralised by Cuschieri's third long one.
Omar Said put in another two hoops, and while Siggiewi were still shocked, Michael Naudi completed an 8-0 run with another trey.
After three sessions Sliema were once more on a strong 65-45 lead. The last quarter had no real story. It only served for Sliema to increase their lead as both sides put their bench players on court, seeing that the game was won and lost.
At the end Siggiewi looked a well-beaten side, as Sliema strolled into the semis.

SIGGIEWI: 4 A. Spiteri, 9 L. Camilleri, 9 D. Camilleri, J. Doughty, 10 A. Portelli, M. Pajic, 4 JP Bonnici, 16 A. Bonnici, 4 M. Shoults, A. Huizer, E. Xuereb
SLIEMA: 14 M. Naudi, C. Calleja, 5 E. Bezzina, T. Riolo, 17 O. said, 11 A. Micallef, 17 D. Cuschieri, 4 K. baldacchino, 12 S. Cassar
REFEREES: Emanuel Mangani, Stephen Micallef