Depiro 61 – Bupa Luxol 55
(14-11, 32-25, 41-39)
Depiro rregistraw l-ewwel rebha fil-kampjonat meta ghelbu lil Luxol biex pattew ukoll kemmxejn ghat-telfa ta’ minima ta’ punt li sofrew kontra l-istess avversarji l-Erbgha li ghaddew fil-kompetizzjoni Knock-Out.
Ghal darba ohra l-konfront kien wiehed bilancjat ghalkemm Depiro gawdew il-vantagg ghal hafna hin nehhi il-ftuh tal-loghba u zewg mumenti kmieni fl-ahhar perjodu. Bi Steve Schembri (li mbaghad kellu jhalli l-court fl-ahhar minuti tal-loghba mwegga’) preciz, Luxol marru 9-7 minn fuq.
Depiro rrispondew b’baskets minn David Agius u Emmanuel Lupo biex ghalqu l-ewwel perjodu 14-11 minn fuq. Minkejja li Luxol kisbu basket rispettiv mic-centres taghhom, Dirk Schembri u Edgar Caruana Montaldo, kienu Depiro li baqghu fuq quddiem meta l-guard Antoine Costa kiseb seba’ punti konsekuttivi ghal 21-15.
Wara li Depiro ziedu d-distakk momentarjament ghal seba’ punti wara xutt mid-distanza minn Agius, il-loghab regghet infethet berah meta Luxol kisbu break ta’ 6-0 mibdi minn Chris Sammut u mkompli minn Robert Azzopardi ghal 26-25.
Gara izda li sa tmiem l-ewwel taqsima kienu biss Depiro li kienu precizi u sitt punti wara xulxin, inkluz 3-pointer minn Costa, poggewhom 32-25 minn fuq.
Sa nofs it-tielet perjodu id-distakk ta’ 7 punti baqa evidenti ghal 37-30 izda ftit qabel tmiem l-istess perjodu, Luxol irnexxielhom jiksbu l-parita’ 39-39 wara basket minn S. Schembri.
Basket u zewg 3-pointers ta’ Sammut taw vantagg lil Luxol 48-46 izda r-risposta ta’ Depiro kienet immedjata bi break iehor ta’ 6-0 b’Lupo ghal darba ohra effettiv. Il-loghba, izda, baqghet miftuha ghal kull rizultat hekk kif Luxol regghu rrimontaw ghal 53-55 izda hawn Costa kiseb 3-pointer ferm importanti li ta nifs qawwi lil Depiro ghax fethilhom vantagg ta’ hames punti bil-hin nettament favurihom.


It was payback day for Depiro, after their two previous defeats against Luxol, the last one just a week ago, in the K.O., lost by a mere point. It was tight again, in this league match, and as Depiro kept pace with their more quoted opponents, their spirits rose, to win their first league match in three games. On the contrary, for Luxol, it was their first defeat, and Siggiewi are now sole leaders.
Steve Schembri began with a trey for Luxol, but Depiro had a reply in Emanuel Lupo, also with a trey. In fact the two players obtained the first few points for their respective sides. Luxol twice held a lead, but Depiro had a good ending to the session, and a 7-0 run put them ahead, as they shut out the Violets in the paint, and held on to a small lead. In the second quarterboth sides displayed some fine fare, with Antoine Costa getting all of Depiro's points, including a trey. Chris Sammut served Dirk Schembri well, for Luxol, under the boards.
Midway through the session Depiro were still holding on, with a 21-19 score intheir favour. Deoiro surged forward again, and David Agius' trey pushed them further in front. Turnovers helped Luxol to pass over this worrying moment, and they went to within a point. Depiro recovered enough, and added on to their lead, in a 6-0 run. and another Costa trey. Halftime score at 32-25.
After the breakLuxol started to creep towards Depiro, but anoth er Costa trey stopped them. Steve Schemvri replied instantly, with his trey, and the Violets went ona 9-2 run, to tie the score. A stalemate then occurred, and it was in the last seconds that Luxol's lost possession enabled Roderick Vella to give his side a 41-39 lead after three sessions.
In the final quarter it was Chris Sammut who instilled confidence in Luxol's efforts, and his two treys made up for Vella's incursions for Depiro. Midway through the session it was Luxol, at 48-46, but Depiro came forward again, hitting the Violets with a 9-2 run, and another Costa trey, in a 55-50 lead. In the last minute Luxol went to within a basket, but Costa's risky trey, instead of full possession, killed off Luxol's hopes, despite further points by both teams in the final seconds.
Depiro were ecstatic at the end, in this match which marked the century in competitive games between the two sides. At the moment it's Luxol, with 57 wins to Depiro's 43.

Depiro: R. Vella 15, C. Cassar, M. Sammut 2, G. Muscat 2, A. Aquilina, A. Tabone, M. Mallia 4, I. Tanti, E. Lupo 13, A. Costa 18, D. Agius 7.
Luxol: C. Sammut 16, M. Mercieca 3, R. Azzopardi 4, M. Micallef, A. Borg, M. Portera, C. Pulis, D. Schembri 16, E. Caruana Montaldo 2, S. Schembri 14.
Refs; Emmanuel Mangani, Jean Paul sammut, Stephen Micallef

Siggiewi Smina 82 – Qormi Kia 49
(26-13, 41-28, 58-38)
Siggiewi kisbu t-tielet rebha konsekuttiva fil-kampjonat Gatorade wara success meritat kontra l-girien Qormi. Wara t-telfa fost il-gimgha fil-kompetizzjoni Knock-Out kontra r-rivali Sliema, Siggiewi nizlu decizi li jirritornaw ghar-rebh. Ghal darba ohra huma kellhom nieqes lil Peter Shouts waqt li ddebbutta ghalihom Jean paul azzopardi, li ncidentalment kien beda l-istagun ma’ l-istess Qormi. Minn naha tal-Qriema kollox jidher lest sabiex fil-bidu tas-sena l-gdida se jkunu ggwidati mill-coach Alfred Mifsud wara li l-coach Tony Camilleri kellu sfortuntament jieqaf.
Break ta’ 12-0 kmieni fil-loghba pogga lil Siggiewi komdi 19-4 minn fuq b’David Camilleri u Abraham Portelli precizi tant li qsmu 17-il punt mis-26 miksuba mir-rebbieha fl-ewwel perjodu. Ghalkemm Qormi tjiebu kemmxejn b’Adrian Baldacchino jippottja xi punti, Siggiewi baqghu sueprjuri u baskets minn Anthony Huizer u Jean Paul Azzopardi poggewhom 38-20 minn fuq.
Sa hin il-mistrieh Wayne Grixti ghen lil Qomri jnaqqsu ftit id-distakk ghal 28-41 bit-tieni perjodu tintemm 15-15. It-tielet perjodu kienet forsi l-anqas wahda li offriet loghob tekniku biz-zewg nahat jikkomettu diversi zbalji ghalkem Siggiewi gharfu jkomplu jkabru l-vantagg ghal 58-38.
Fl-ahhar ghaxar minuti Siggiewi kisbu break ta’ ghaxar punti biz-zghazagh Jean Paul Bonnici u Matthew Shouts jaqsmu 13-il punt fil-perjodu.


Siggiewi were attentive throughout the whole game, as they mastered Qormi for the second time this season. This time their victory was more pronounced, and Qormi were never given any scope to cause any serious mishaps in the match. the defeat by Sliema in the K.O. rankled Siggiewi, and they went all out in this encounter.
Siggiewi had Peter Shoults work-tied again, and Michael Barberi has now gone to neighbours, SN Suns, in a lower division. They introduced new signing, JP Azzopardi, a good addition to their side, and young Lee Grech was also included, and played a part of the match. Qormi now have to make do without coach, Tony Camilleri, and Michael Amaira is a temporary replacement.
Siggiewi made a no-nonsense start to the match, racing into a 7-0 lead, with an Abraham Portelli trey. After a Qormi reaction, which produced a couple of hoops, it was Siggiewi forcing the game again, piling up more points in a 12-0 run, including treys by David Camilleri and Portelli. Qormi's Adrian Baldacchino got in the action, with a five point spread, including a trey. Siggiewi were then marginally better in their shooting till the end of the quarter, establishing a good lead.
Both sides included bench players in the second session. Siggiewi's points were all replied to by Qormi, who had Adrian Baldacchino to thank for. Midway through the quarter Siggiewi still held their lead, at 33-20. They put in a spurt, and an unlikely trey by Anthony Huizer helped to increase their advantage.
Qormi staged a recovery, but they could onlt return to their original deficit. At the interval it was 41-28 to Siggiewi. After the break it was a quieter match. Siggiewi started off by increasing their lead, beginning with an Azzopardi trey.
A 9-3 run made the game safer, and time passed with no side able to obtain points. Then it was free shots at both ends, with Siggiewi confidently keeping control. Huizer was having a positive match for Siggiewi, and as the session came to an end Qormi had fallen further behind, on a 38-58 score, with a quarter to go.
The last session was more open, and the points were evnly shared at first, with Siggiewi adding on and Qormi putting in their reply. Azzopardi sank another trey for Siggiewi and Wayne Grixti did likewise at the other end. More bench players went on court and Siggiewi ended the game on a high, as they were the fitter side. A 10-0 run settled the issue and at the very end it was Matthew Shoults with a trey, for a comfortable win.

Siggiewi: A. Spiteri 6, L. Camilleri 4, D. Camilleri 6, J. Doughty, A. Portelli 15, JP Azzopardi 12, L. Grech, JP Bonnici 10, A. Bonnici 8, M. Shouts 8, A. Huizer 12, E. Xuereb 1.
Qormi: W. Grixti 14, A. Grech 8, K. Scicluna 2, A. Camilleri, S. Farrugia, R. Formosa, J. Dalli 7, R. Baldacchino, C. Bugeja, S. Cauchi 6, A. Baldacchino 12.
Refs: Bernard Vassallo, Emmanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro.

Sliema Wanderers 96 – Floriana 40
(25-8, 46-20, 66-33)
Sliema rritornaw ghar-rebh fil-kampjonat, biex issa ghandhom zewg rebhiet minn tliet partiti, wara li b’mod komdu huma ghelbu lil Floriana li forsi wiehed stenna xi haga aktar minnhom wara li kienu gejjin minn rebha fil-hin barrani kontra Depiro.
Kif jindika l-iskor finali, kien hemm differenza cara bejn iz-zewg nahat wara li Sliema fethu l-loghba bi break kbir ta’ 19-0 bit-trio bl-esperjenza Silvio Cassar, Omar Said u Michael Naudi precizi. Kie biss il-veteran Don Ross li beda jirrispondi ghal Floriana (li kellhom id-debutt ta’ Clint Grixti waqt li rritorna Brian Grech) izda sa nofs il-loghba Sliema kienu trankwilli 46-20 minn fuq. It-tieni taqsima kienet pjuttost formalita ghalkemm Floriana kellhom l-aqwa mument taghhom f’nofs it-tielet perjodu bi break ta’ 10-0 .
Sliema malajr irrispondew u bejn tmiem it-tielet perjodu u l-bidu ta’ l-ahhar wiehed huma ppottjaw 16-il punt konsekuttiv fejn iz-zghazagh Clayton calleja u Jonathan Zammit gawdew minn xi munti fuq il-court u bejniethom ukoll qasmu 17-il punt. Il-players kollha tar-rebbieha, bhalissa mmexxija mill-coach Ray Muscat, irnexielhom inizzlu isimhom fost l-iskorers hekk kif ghalqu l-loghba b’run ta’ 21-4.

Without any hassle Sliema obtained a stress-free win, after their victory over Siggiewi last weekend. Stopping just short of the first century in the top division this season, Sliema started like a house on fire, but then the large lead induced them to tone down their play, as Floriana gamely tried to offer suitable opposition, but their euphoria, after their overtime win over Qormi, in their last game, took a rude jolt.
The game had historical connotations, with the two teams meeting for the first time in a basketball match, and given the rivalry in the footballing sector. For Floriana, Brian Grech returned from abroad, and their new signing, Clint Grixti, was on court from the very start. Sliema had young Jonathan Zammit, back after his suspension.
The Blues started off full of fire, and a Michael Naudi trey, followed by a Roderick Mifsud free throw for Floriana, preceded a strong Sliema 22-2 run, as they imposed their forceful play, for a commanding lead.
The Greens recovered at the end of the session, and a Don Ross trey helped them to recover some lost ground. In the second session Sliema once more came roaring out. A 9-0 run was snapped by Don Ross, as Floriana managed a 6-0 run of their own, which was rudely stopped by a Duncan Cuschieri trey, as Sliema completed an 8-0 run. Floriana tried to hold out as best they could, till the interval buzzer, as Sliema's shooting was losing its sting. Halfway through the match the Wanderers were leading 46-20.
After the break, and an early Floriana basket, Sliema took over briefly, and an Etienne Bezzina trey began a 7-0 run. This petered out, and Floriana took advantage of Sliema's indifferent play, to post a good 10-0 run of their pwn, for a 32-53 score. . Sliema replied at last, with three consecutive hoops, and they followed this up with a session-ending 7-0 run. After three sessions a 66-33 score favoured the Wanderers. In the final quarter, with their two youngsters on court, Sliema raced into a 9-0 run, stopped by a Brian Grech trey for Floriana.
Sliema took over again, stitching another 10-2 run, as Floriana tried to limit the damage. The match ended on another 11-0 Sliema run, as they coasted through to their second league win in three matches.

Sliema: M. Naudi 16, J. Zammit 9, C. Calleja 8, E. Bezzina 11, T. Riolo 3, O. Said 15, A. Micallef 5, D. Cuschieri 6, K. Baldacchino 8, S. Cassar 15.
Floriana: R. Spiteri, N. Falzon 2, J. Paris 2, B. Grech 3, B. Portelli, C. Grixti 2, S. Cassar, V. Torbarov, B. Riolo 2, G. Gilson 4, R. Mifsud 5, G. Gauci Grech, D. Ross 20. Refs: Emmanuel Mangani, Gordon Barbara, Alfred Carbonaro