Depiro just a game away from the final

Cynergi Depiro 63 Floriana MCP Car Parks 60 (16-17, 8-17, 17-9, 27-17)

Depiro suffered a heavy defeat in their second game against Floriana but they bounced back well and also survived a sending off and falling further behind.

They gritted their teeth came back in style and fully exploited Floriana’s short bench when Shawn Pace cried off injured and Sean Borg went out on fouls. A determined finish to the encounter gave them the spoils putting them ahead on games. They are now just a match away from the final. It was close all the way at first with both sides sticking close to each other as Chad Patud led the way for Floriana and DJ Mason for Depiro up to the end of the opening period.

In the next session, the deficits began to open up. It was Floriana who surged forward and an 8-0 run with a Pace trey and Patus points gave them the first real advantage. Mason netted two late hoops but in between Pace sank a second triple and the Greens were 34-24 in front at the interval.

After the break, Depiro began their way back with an 8-3 run as Nikola Vasovic netted Floriana’s trey. Xuereb was sent off and free shots had Floriana on a maximum advantage.

Depiro answered back well making up a session ending 9-0 run which took them just a hoop away on a 41-43 score.

The last quarter saw Vasovic nailing his second trey for the Greens. Depiro were back at close quarters but Vasovic and Patus points took Floriana away again. Depiro did not lose heart and after a 7-0 run with a David Bugeja trey pushed them ahead Floriana immediately regained their lead but that was their last advantage.

Depiro struck in earnest with Bugeja converting a number of free shots with Mario Tabone being shown the way out. Depiro managed to make up a game ending 11-3 run with Patus netting a late triple which proved futile.

Depiro are back ahead this time two games to one and they copuld advance into the final if they could win once more next Wednesday. Both Xuereb and Tabone will miss this fourth encounter after their sending offs.

Depiro: N. Grech , D. Bugeja 20, R. Bonnici 12, D. Schembri , A. Aquilina 5, DJ Mason 27, T. Zammit, M. Mallia, A. Quiros 2, K. Xuereb 2, M. Borg, D. Scafidi

Floriana: C. Patus 21, S. Pace 6, S. Borg 4, N. Vasovic 16, C. Calleja 4, A. Axiaq 9, A. Micallef Trigona, N. Andrejevic

Referees: G. Barbara, I. Simic, I. Marjanovic