Fifth success for Athleta
The eighth edition of this honour went Athleta’s way, for their fifth success. They overcame a tough obstacle, especially in the first part of the second period, after some awesome Starlites defence, but the losers didn’t keep on, and when Athleta’s two Americans, Connel Crossland and Ian Thiesen were on four fouls, nobody went one on one with them, to foul them out. Athleta overcame this rough period of play, as they did, when their lost their skipper, Peter Shoults, on an ankle injury, early on in the match. They missed his never say die spirit, but recovered sufficiently, to post their victory, as Starlites inexplicably faded out at the end.
Athleta started out on a bright note, racing to a 12-2 lead, as Matthew Gouder sank a triple. Starlites recovered, as Alec Felice Pace and Robert Bonnici made treys, but Athleta opened their advantage once more, with a 9-3 run, as Thiesen, in his second season among us, after his sojourn with Floriana, netted his trey.
It was Starlites with the better ending to the session, making up their leeway, as Felice Pace, twice more, and Ryan Carabott sank triples. Athltea could only muster a couple of hoops, with Starlites going in, at the interval, on a 32-29 advantage.
After the break, Starlites went further ahead, but Athleta came back, to draw very near, only for Starlites’ American, Konor Kulas, to give them more breathing space.
With Crossland still very active, Athleta drew level on points, only for Starlites to inch ahead twice more, but their adventure stopped there, as Athleta had their measure, and dominated the final part of the match, making up a game ending 11-0 run.
Thiesen’s second triple ended starlites’ last hopes, and Billy Zammit came on in the final seconds, to notch a brace of free throws, and decorate the final icing on the cake.
After the game came the presentations, with medals to both teams. These came about through the Opposition’s Member of Parliament, and sports spokesman, Ryan Callus, and the MBA president, Paul Sultana.
Finally Athleta’s skipper, who practically missed the whole encounter, hobbled on to receive the winning Shield and trophy, as Athleta began their season where they left off, winning the league last season.
Starlites: A. Felice Pace 14, O. Psaila, M. Azzopardi , R. Bonnici 6, M. Fabri, M. Falzon, M. Scerri, R. Carabott 5, I. Kumric, K. Kulas 11, J. Marseille 12
Athleta: C. Crossland 12, S. Pace 4, B. Zammit 2, P. Shoults, A. Novakovic, S. Vincic, N. Xuereb 9, M. Gouder 12, M. Novakovic 4, I. Thiesen14, E. Abela , R. Abela 6
Referees: B. Vassallo, Z. Dobrosavljevic, D. Torok
Way to the final Group 1
Depiro-Mellieha Libertas 63-54 (32-17, 31-27)
Starlites GIG-Depiro 71-53 (39-22, 32-31)
Mellieha Libertas-Starlites GIG 65-61 (32-31, 33-30)
Group 2
Hibernians-Luxol 50-58 (16-32, 34-26)
Gzira Athleta-La Salle 56-38 (27-16, 29-22)
Luxol-Gzira Athleta 48-56 (16-26, 32-30) La Salle-Hibernians 50-53 (22-24, 28-29)
La Salle-Luxol 63-62
(29-35, 34-27)
Semi-finals
Starlites GIG-Luxol 60-43 (31-21, 29-22)
Gzira Athleta-Mellieha Libertas 72-52
(38-24,34-28)