Last session instrumental in Depiro’s victory

Balkan Fusion 77 Depiro 88 (16-22, 25-20, 18-14, 18-32

Depiro absorbed all that Balkan threw at them and kept in touch as the game progressed.

Even if they fell behind early on in the last quarter, they recovered to sweep past their opponents and establish a good enough advantage to sustain them to the final buzzer.

After their Shield success, Balkan thought that this second honour could be theirs but Depiro proved to be the fly in the ointment as they registered their third success in this competition. Their wins were widely spaced in 1988 and 2004 but they had fallen to Balkan in the first round of league play and took their revenge in the final.

Depiro recovered their American Jack Nygaard who proved to be the game’s catalyst and eventually was given the MVP award but they didn’t have their Czech player Adam Chomo. Balkan had Alex Perunicic Bogdan Ilic and Bogdan Mrkojevic who were absent in their last en- counter.

Balkan had the better start going to an 8-2 advantage. Depiro repeated the same dose with a Nygaard trey to draw level. Later on Depiro had Marko Zloh and Nygaard with more triples as they made up a 10-0 run.

More points at either end had Depiro holding on to their lead.

In the next period, Perunicic points took Balkan a point adrift. Depiro extended their lead but Balkan went on level terms.

Depiro’s reaction brought an 82 run with two more Nygaard triples. Then it was Perunicic with a personal 8-2 run and a brace of treys to another par. Nygaard’s triple had Depiro just ahead at the interval on a 42-41 score.

After the break, it was Nicholas Grech for Depiro with his points and a trey. Balkan stirred up and produced a 10-1 run to forge ahead.

Depiro regained their advantage only to lose it again as Balkan kept their noses in front to a 59-56 lead.

In the last quarter Mrkojevic sank a Balkan trey but Kurt Xuereb and Nygaard did the same for Depiro. Balkan still held their lead until Depiro came up with a heavy 14-2 run which took the wind out of Balkan’s sails when again Xuereb and Nygaard, with his last of seven triples, had Depiro in the driving seat.

Balkan’s last efforts with a third trey for Perunicic were not enough and with Balkan trying to stop the clock, Depiro converted their free shots to emerge victors and claim the KO final.

After the match, BOV Chief Officer Peter Perotti presented the MVP award to Jack Nygaard and the Depiro mentor Alfred Mifsud received the winning KO trophy.

Balkan: N. Radicevic, B. Ilic 20, I. Kumric 11, S. Opojevlic 4, A. Perunicic 26, Z. Stankovic, B. Mrkojevic 5, N. Bukva, V. Lekovic, N. Stankovic 11, M. Stjepanovic.

Depiro: E. Briffa 1, A. Attard, N. Grech 17, J. Camilleri, M. Zloh 3, K. Xuereb 17, M. Borg 6, M.Brincat 2, M. Mallia, J. Nygaard 42, M. Debattista, J. Vibe.

Referees: B. Vassallo, N. Azzopardi, T. Mantere.