Luxol oust Athleta from final
Gzira Athleta 81 Bupa Luxol 84 (22-31, 15-19, 23-12, 21-22)
Luxol already had two wins under their belt and they managed this third one to go in to the final at the first time of asking but it was touch and go at the end.
It didn’t look that way midway through the second period when the Violets were fully 20 points to the good. They were still comfortably in front midway through the next session but were surprised by an Athleta adrenalin spurt which wiped out the large deficit.
The last quarter saw fully eight lead changes with Luxol holding out at the end to eliminate Athleta who had a perfect record of successive Play Off finals since the start of the Millenium.
Luxol were in front early on with Samuel Deguara points and a William Ahlberg trey. Athleta reacted and Morakinjo Williams hoops had them on a par. Pierce Cumpstone netted a Luxol trey in a 7-2 run but Roderick Vella sank an Athleta triple soon after. The Violets managed another 7-0 run with a CJ Cordina trey. Then came Michael Naudi points and a triple for Athleta.
Luxol increased their advantage with another Ahlberg triple.
In the next period, Luxol went further in front with another 7-0 run and another Cordina trey. Athleta pulled some points back but an 8-0 Luxol run had them on their highest advantage at 48-28. Athleta drew nearer with a session ending 9-2 run and another Vella triple but they were still trailing at a distance on a 37-50 score at the interval.
After the break, Luxol opened up their lead once more with more Deguara points and a third Cordina trey. Vella also nailed another triple for Athleta. With the Violets in a commanding position came Athleta’s revival.
They pushed their opponents back and put in a solid 14-0 run with Naudi constant points and a Josiah white head triple. This took them just a hoop away at 60-62.
In the last quarter, Peter Shoults for Athleta and JP Schembri for Luxol both netted treys. Athleta forged in front but Schembri and Ahlberg triples thrust the Violets ahead again. Athleta kept on making up an 8-0 run with a Whitehead second trey and Vella points.
Luxol had to start again and a brace of hoops restored their lead. Athleta regained their advantage but Cordina points with his fourth trey gave Luxol a late lead. Athleta went a mere point behind but Naudi missed his free throws.
Not so Ahlberg as Luxol were a triple away. Only seconds remained and a last desperate long range Shoults effort missed the mark and Luxol advanced to the final to await their adversaries still not known.
Athleta: M. Naudi 20, R. Vella 16, D. Camilleri 2, M. Williams 6, P. Shoults 10, F. Mifsud Bonnici, B. Zammit, L. Stefanovic, S. Vincic, M. Gauci Montaldo, J. Whitehead 27
Luxol: CJ Cordina 20, M. Mercieca, D. Meli, J. Maistre Melillo, JP Schembri 6, K. Dimech 2, W. Ahlberg 15, P. Cumpstone 13, S. Deguara 28, S. Cappello
Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, I. Simic