Athleta settle issue in last quarter
It was a classic encounter, with the only fly in the ointment being, that somebody had to finish on the losing side. Both sides produced the goods, and there was nothing between the two sides for practically the whole match.
It was only in the last stages of the match that Athleta obtained a winning margin, to acquire their second league victory on the trot. It was the first match, between these two sides, this season. Luxol had made up a huge score, against Starlites, but their creditable score, in this match, was not enough, and they had to succumb to Athleta.
Athleta had David Camilleri back in the side, though he remained on the bench, but Kristin Baldacchino was missing.
After the opening skirmishes, it was athleta to forge ahead, with a 7-0 run. JP SChembri netted a Luxol trey, with athleta increasing their advantage again. William Ahlberg sank another Luxol triple, and late points had the Violets just a point behind. In teh second session Keith Dimech points prodded Luxol in front, but Athleta responded well, and Peter Shoults and Jon Feiler treys took them ahead.
Luxol went close, with Nikola Vasovic free shots, and more Dimech points, also with a triple, pushed teh champions in front once more. Athleta, led by skipper, Michael naudi, twice overturned the score, but a late Vasovic trey had Luxol just ahead, at the interval, on a 48-47 score.
After the break The score was tied twice, then Athleta went in front, by the merest margins. Luxol overturned the score, with Athleta again tying the score. Free throws took the Vuiolets in front, but Athleta managed to end the session by a single point advantage, at 69-68. The last quarter had Athleta extending their lead, with an 8-2 run. Luxol struck back, making up a 9-1 run, to jump ahead, but in the remaining time it was athleta , mainly from Jon Feiler, to put in a winning 10-2 sequence, as Luxol lost Dimech and Kyle Meyer on fouls. Luxol's last efforts were futile, as Athleta controlled, to register back to back league victories.
Luxol: CJ Cordina, M. Sjoberg, N. Vasovic 19, JP Schembri 3, K. Dimech 19, W. Ahlberg 21, A. Micallef Trigona, K. Meyer 20, S. Cappello 2
Athleta :M. Naudi 25, B. Zammit 3, D. Camilleri, P. Shoults 5, F. Mifsud Bonnici 10, O. Said 3, L. Stefanovic, N. Xuereb, S. Vincic, I. Mitrovic 6, J. Feiler 40
Referees: T. Mantere, Z. Dobrosavljevic, I. Simic
Hibs dominate after the interval
Hibs had just beaten Depiro, in the Shiled, earlier on, in the season, but this win was a more comfortable one, but only in the last part of the third session, and in the last one.
Depiro had caused problems in the first part of the match, but then couldn't maintain the pressure, and Hibs eased away, to obtain their first league win, after an initial loss, to Athleta.
It was Depiro's first league match, and the first one in three weeks, after being eliminated from early on, in the Shield. The Paolites had Kieron caruans missing, after his in jury in a lower division encounter. Depiro were without Alvaro Quiros, Kurt Xuereb was on his first, in a two match suspension, and Myron Agius was also absent.
There were triples a-plenty in this match. Andrew aquilkina started for depiro, with Alvaro Lizaur doing the same, for Hibs. Later on it was Dominic Scafidi and Nicholas Grech, for Depiro. Simon Attard also netted a trey, for the Paolites, who were trailing depiro, after the opening period.
Roderick vella sank a Hibs trey, in teh next session, but Aquilina nailed two more Depiro triples, with his side opening up their advantage. The Paolites came back strongly, with a heavy 14-4 run, and Lizaur and vella treys. David Bugeja also netted a Depiro triple, but Hibs were just in front, at the interval, on a 40-39 score.
After the break Hibs increased their elad, with Marco matijevic and Lizaur points, the latter also with a trey. Scafidi and matthew Borg produced depiro triples, to go close again.
The Paolites came up with a solid 11-2 run, as Vella sank another brace of treys, with Lizaur also netting another one, in between. Depiro had fallen behind, and a further Vella triple had Hibs resting on a better 67-54 advantage. In the alst session it was Hibs extending their lead. Bugeja and Grech nailed Depiro treys, but Vella kept on with his triples, and a sixth one. An 8-0 Hibs run sewed up the encounter, although there were more treys to come. Bugeja and Grech netted more triples, for Depiro, with Grech replying for the Paolites, with two more of his own.
Hibs: R. Vella 22, P. Attard , K. Sultana, L. Farrugia , S. Attard 5, I. Bonett 6, A. Axiaq 3, M. Matijevic 24, A. Lizaur 26, F. Mariani , C. Patus 10
Depiro: E. Briffa, D. Bugeja 22, R. Xuereb, A. Aquilina 9, N. Grech 9, A. Attard, M. Mallia , M. Borg 5, D. Scafidi 25
Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, N. Azzopardi