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press reports - 21st October

MBA Shield 1 Div. Men A

Bupa 77 Floriana 39

(19-8)(25-11)(20-8)(13-12)

Bupa recovered from their opening Shield defeat by Compleet IS, and had no difficulty in beating a Floriana side that must buck up their resources, if they want to remain in the top division. Bupa were superior in all departments, and could afford some slips during their performance. The Greens seem to be a weaker team from last season, and they cannot afford to lose possession so often, as they did against Bupa.

Alan Borg returned for Bupa, having served his long suspension, and took Reuben Dalli's place. Floriana, now without Don ross and Roderick Mifsud, have Sassoun Saakian, ex-Mosta. and Milan Pajic, from Siggiewi, who qualifies with a Maltese passport.

Floriana took time to settle down, and Alex Bianchi and Marko Matijevic established Bupa's lead. Robert Azzopardi consolidated the score to 12-2, before the Greens could organise a better defence. Till the end of the session it was Matijevic who obtained Bupa's points, and keep their advantage.

In the second quarter a couple of treys, in an 8-0 run, gave Bupa a 27-8 lead. Floriana's Saakian stopped the run with his points, but Bupa picked up the rythym again, and a 13-2 session-ending run, put Bupa on a 44-19 advantage at the interval

After the break Bupa began once more with a brace of treys. Floriana did recover, with an 8-4 run, and a Milan Pajic trey. Bupa then denied the Greens the way to the basket, till the end of the quarter, whilst running up a 10-0 break. With a session to go it was already cut and dry, with a 64-27 Bupa lead.

The final session started on a slow note, with Bupa putting in their bench players. Floriana shared the play for some time, but when Bupa pressed again, they made up a 9-2 run. The match then fizzled out, with Floriana needing to buck up their performance for their future games.

Bupa: S. Mizzi, 4 M. Mercieca, 17 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 8 A. Borg, 8 A. Bianchi, 1 M. Bonnici, 5 T. Paris, D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 23 M. Matijevic, 11 S. Schembri

Floriana: K. Mifsud, 3 N. Falzon, R. Spiteri, 6 M. Pajic, 2 B. riolo, 2 K. Borg, G. Gilson, 10 A. Sultana, 16 S. saakian

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Clive Terribile

MBA Shield 1 Div. Men B

Mellieha SVS Reflections 51 Depiro 58

(14-16)(10-18)(12-10)(15-14)

Depiro's first appearance this season resulted in an opening win, as they overcame the Mellieha obstacle, to guarantee a place in the Shield semi finals. After a faltering start Depiro could dictate the play for most of the time, and Mellieha were always chasing their opponents. True, they came somewhat close on a couple of occasions, but Depiro found means to open up their lead again, and assure their victory.

Mellieha were still without the injured Samuel Aquilina and Matthew Cauchi. Depiro had a foreigner, the domiciled Macedonian, Marko Arsovski. This season they are under the guidance of Dalibor Miatovic.

Mellieha had a bright opening, with a 7-0 run, but in the space of less than two minutes, Depiro turned the score around. An Arsovski trey started a 10-0 run, before Mellieha could reply, to tie the score. Depiro went ahead again, and kept in front till the end of the session.

In the second quarter Mellieha were still chasing, but they were hit by an 8-0 run, as Antoine Costa sank two treys, for a 28-17 lead. Mellieha recovered, mainly through Chris Sammut, but Depiro put in the last two hoops of the period, for a 34-24 half time score.

After the break Costa's p[oints extended Depiro's advantage, but Mellieha's insistence saw them coming back, in the later stages of the session, as Julian Naudi and Sammut sank treys. Depiro still enjoyed a 44-36 lead, with a quarter to go.

Mellieha's efforts at the start pushed them nearer, but Depiro settled down again, and an 8-0 run opened up a handsome lead. Naudi and Sammut again produced treys, but Depiro broke the sequence, to keep Mellieha at bay. There wasn't enough time to get within reach, as Mellieha tasted their second defeat.

Mellieha: 21 Julian Naudi, 16 Chris Sammut

Depiro: 16 Emanuel Lupo, 12 Antoine Costa 11 Marko Arsovski

Referees: Gordon Barbara, Alfred Carbonaro

MBA Shield 2 Div. Men

St. James Hospital 59 Bell Med SN Suns 49

(12-12)(15-10)(18-13)(14-14)

This was a close encounter for the first two sessions, but St. James gradually edged away from their adversaries, to establish a good lead at the start of the third quarter, and Suns could not make up the desired leeway, to get back into contention.

This was St. James' first match of the season, but Suns had already lost to Qormi, in their first game..

St, James' players were all over the court, being the younger side, and they established an early 9-3 lead, with a Clint Grixti trey. Suns' reply was adequate enough, all their points coming from treys, as Trevor Grech and Sam Farrugia bagged two apiece.

In the second quarter Suns' treys were still going in, through Grech and Hubert Agius, and their team went 20-14 in front. St. James got into their stride, and they took over till the end of the session, compiling a 13-2 run. At the interval the Saints were 27-22 ahead.

After the break St. James continued with a further 9-0 run, and a Nigel Sultana trey. Suns tried to react, and they did manage to lower their deficit, but Sultana and Jonathan Ransley did enough for St. James, to hold a 45-38 lead, after three sessions.

In the final period points were scarcer at first. After falling behind again, Suns tried a final effort, but , although going under double figure deficit, they could not get near enough. The Saints then closed down the match, with another Grixti trey, and Shawn Pace free shots, for a satisfying opening victory.

St. James: 15 Jonathan Ransley, 12 Nigel Sultana, 10 Clint Grixti

Suns; 15 Hubert Agious, 13 Trevor Grech

Referees: Jean Paul Sammut, Emanuel Mangani

MBA Shield 2 Div. Men

Qormi Kia 52 Mosta 42

(16-7)(15-10)(9-11)912-14)

Both sides were coming from an opening victory, and Qormi's win put them ahead of the others. Qormi exploited Mosta's indecisive start, to open a good lead. Mosta's reply, though making the score a closer one, could not hepl them in taking something from the game.

An Antoine Grech trey opened Qormi's account, and Roberto Formosa's points helped them to a 10-3 lead. Mosta were not co-ordinating well, but they managed to stop Qormi from increasing their lead, but failing to get any closer.

In the second quarter, after some ineffectual play from both sides, it was Qormi again, with their fast play, who made an 11-2 run, with a Simon Cauchi trey. This was stopped by a trio of hoops from Mosta, started by Joe Micallef's baskets. Qormi recovered at the end, through Formosa'a free shots, for a 31-17 lead at the interval.

After the break Mosta began to find more space, and Qormi had to do some chasing. Steve Gouder was effective under the boards, but Carlos Bugeja's trey for Qormi kept their opponents at a distance, and after three sessions it was still 40-28 for Qormi.

The final quarter saw Mosta trying to make up the leeway quickly. Qormi's defence wasn't that steady, and Mosta began inching nearer. Bugeja came up with his hoops, to keep Qormi ahead enough, as the clock started to wind down. Then Qormi's breaks put paid to Mosta's hopes, and the Kia side went to the top of the table.

Qormi: 10 Anton Axiaq

Mosta: 12 Steve Gouder, 11 Mark Spiteri

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Stephen Micallef

MBA Shield Women B

Sliema Wanderers 23 Luxol 67

(5-16)(5-9)(11-14)(2-28)

This first Group B match saw Luxol make the first step towards a place in the semi finals. Asexpected, they had a tranquil time against a Sliema side who had an uphill task, against more experienced adversaries, although at times Luxol seemed to fall into their old penchant of giving a helping hand to their opponents, with their slipshod play.

The last time these two teams met there were sparks flying, and as a result, two players from each side missed this match, through suspension, Calleja and Farrugia for Sliema, and Sciortino and Mangion for Luxol. The latter now have Beverlee zammit, last season's Player of the Year, instead of Kirsten Micallef, as Luxol and Hibs traded players.

Luxol found no difficulty in opening up a 14-0 lead, with a Psaila savona trey, as she and Emma moore found gaps in the opposing defence. Sliema obtained points late in the quarter, as Luxol slackened off.

The second session was slower, and Luxol wasted numerous chances. Sliema were denied points till the last minute, when it was mainly Ariana Grixti to score. Luxol's scoring had stopped minutes earlier, and at the interval it was 25-10 to the Violets.

After the break the match improved a little. Luxol opened with a couple of hoops, but Sliema went one better. Bev Zammit started to integrate with her new team, and a 10-3 run saw Luxol extend their advantage, for a 39-21 lead, after three sessions.

In the final period Sliema were dominated, as Luxol played some good set play. Psaila Savona put in three more treys, and Bev Zammit made her first for her new club. A 12-0 run was only stopped by a Samantha Tabone hoop, before the treys kept going in, with a closing 16-0 run, for the runaway Luxol ladies.

Sliema: 13 Samantha Tabone

Luxol: 24 Beverlee Zammit, 20 Francesca Psaila Savona, 12 Emma Moore

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Anthony Micallef

MBA Shield Women A

St. James Hospital 45 Kerygma 44

(14-22)(10-4)(10-10)(11-8)

It was close, and anybody's game. Kerygma led for most of the time, but St. James came back at the end, and the final session proved decisive. Both sides were wasteful in their shooting and their passing. Kerygma will surely rue this lost occasion, but if the boot was on the other foot, then St. James would probably have done the same. Both sides were more competitive last seaosn, and will surely improve in later matches.

St. James included ex-Kerygma, Annabelle Busuttil. Kerygma, now without Renette Debono, gone to depiro, had a refreshing Cynthia Saliba and Nadia Cassar, as their new players. The latter returned to playing again, after a long layoff, and so many years with Luxol.

Kerygma had a good start, with a 10-2 run, and treys by Josette Calleja. Nadia Cassar kept them in front, at 16-4, but St. James came back, although hampered by a third Calleja trey.

The second quarter was short on points, especially at the Kerygma end. St. James recovered mainly through Sammy Jo Barbara. They tied the score, but a Nadia Cassar hoop gave Kerygma a 26-24 interval advantage.

In the third session Kerygma had Cynthia Saliba to thank, as her points opened up a 35-28 lead. The Saints returned, with points by Beverie Sultana and Kim Borg, and after three sessions Kerygma's lead had gone down to a slight 36-34 score.

The final quarter saw St. James go ahead for the first time. Moira Caruana's trey for Kerygma restored their lead, and they enjoyed a 42-38 advantage, but Sammy Jo Barbara was insistent for the Saints, and her points helped St. james to regain the lead twice. They managed to hold on till the end, to savour a win which could have gone either way.

St. James: 15 Sammy Jo Barbara

Kerygma: 15 Cynthia Saliba, 13 Josette Calleja

Referees: Jean Paul Sammut, Stephen Micallef

MBA Shield Women A

SN Suns JC 11 Hins Medsea 90

(3-20)(3-15)(2-30)(3-25)

The champions, defending all the honours won last season, began with an easy encounetr against the sporting Suns, who give of their best, but continue to find the going tough, as they did from the previous season. Hibs took the opportunity to give all their players shared playing time.

Suns had ex-Hibs, Svetlana Micallef, in their ranks. The champions, now without Bev Zammit, sported new signing, Kirsten Micallef, and upgraded Kirsty Tonna, from the junior ranks.

Alexis Darmanin started the Paolites off, with her trio of hoops, as Lilian Cremona obtained the first Suns point. Hibs then ran up a long 14-2 run, with a Kirsten Micallef trey, ans Svetlana Micallef made the first Suns hoop.

In the second session there was a complete overhaul in the Hibs' ranks. Suns sneaked in some points, before the champions began to tot up the baskets, which were distributed evenly between the players on court. They ended on another 11-0 run, for a 35-6 halftime lead.

After the break Suns were hit really hard. The probable Paolites' first five were on court, as Suns could only muster a single Francesca Borg hoop. Micallef added two more treys for Hibs, and Maria Desira ended the session's scoring with her personal points, for a 65-8 score.

The last quarter didn't differ much. Hibs' bench players were given more playiong time, and they responded with direct play. Suns were caught time and time again. They could only break Hibs' scoring spree with Petra Zammit points, but the Paolites could run up a high score with fast breaks and easy lay ups.

Suns: 4 Petra Zammit

Hibs: 19 Maria Desira, 14 Doreen Micallef, Alexis Darmanin, 11 Kirsten Micallef

vassallobernard	Latest page update: made by vassallobernard , Oct 22 2007, 10:33 AM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by vassallobernard 2246 words added view changes - complete history)
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