Newcomers Mellieha Libertas clinch it in overtime

Mellieha Libertas

Hibernians

(after overtime)

(22-17, 14-17, 22-23, 16-17) - (14-13)

The opening match of the season produced a thrilling encounter, which had to go into overtime before a result was obtained. Fresh into their first game, in the top flight, Mellieha started off the proceedings with an opening victory, which stunned the Paolites, who managed to take the match into extra time, but fell to alate free throw, by the man of the match, Serbian, Vukasin Jandric, playing his first match for the Northerners.

Both sides opted for just the one foreigner for their opening encounter, although Mellieha had two others, but considered as locals. Serbs, Nenad Stojanovski and Klemen Skrabec. Hibs kept their Serbian player, Ivan Demcesen, from last season.

Mellieha had other new players, in their new skipper, Peter Shoults, with his vast experience, Isaac Bonett, Mirco Azzopardi, Miguel Falzon and Miguel Gauci Montaldo, the last three on loan. The Paolites had only one new entry, Keith Dimech.

The match began with a Shoults triple, and Mellieha kept in front, until a brace of Hibs hoops made it 8-7. Mellieha replied with an 8-0 run, mostly from Bonett, nut the Paolites went a hoop behind, late in the session, only for Stojanovski to sink a trey.

In the second period Demcesen took his sid eto within a point, but Stojanovski came up with another triple. David Bugeja free throws, for Hibs, had Shoults replying with another trey. Hibs had a good ending to the session, ending with more Demcesen points, But Jandric put in his first trey, of six, just before, and Mellieha were hanging on to a slight 36-34 score, at the interval.

After the break Nicola Vasovic came up for the Paolites, in a heavy 13-2 start, as Hibs edged away, to a nine point advantage. Jandric took matters in his own hands, and produced a personal 12-0 run, with another triple. Bugeja tied the score for Hibs, with his only trey of the game, and then further Anton Axiaq and Demcesen points for Hibs were offset by more Jandric and Shoults triples, as Mellieha kept their noses in front, with a 5857 score. The last quarter saw the lead changing four times, as

Jandric, with two, and Stojanovski, netted more treys. Demcesen led the charge for the Paolites, as they chased their adversaries. Mellieha were three ahead, with time runnung out, but Hibs saved the match, with a trio of free shots, to tie the score at 74-74, and force overtime.

Axiaq gave Hibs the first lead, but Mellieha were soon on level terms. More Demcesen points had the Paolites again in front, but Shoults took Mellieha nearer, with his fourth triple. Mellieha tied the score twice more, with Axiaq eking out another lead. Jandric sank his lat Mellieha triple, but Hibs tied the score again. A late Shoults free throw was the deciding factor, with Hibs losing possession, in the last handful of seconds, and lose out in the end.

Mellieha: A. Schembri, V. Jandric 45, M. Falzon, P. Shoults 20, M. Azzopardi, I. Bonett 6, C. Briffa, M. Gauci Montaldo, N. Stojanovski 13, K. Skrabec 4

Hibs: P. Attard 3, D. Bugeja 20, K. Caruana 6, L. Farrugia 1, N. Vasovic 8, A. Axiaq 14, M. Matijevis 3, K. Dimech 6, N. cassar, M. Attard, I. Demcesen 26

Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, L. Camilleri

Depiro down foreigners-less Athletha

Depiro 79 Gzira Athleta 68 (25-17, 16-15, 21-18, 17-18)

Depiro: M. Sierra 14, C. Thomas 13, M. Debattista, D. Pisani, A. Atttard 2, N. Grech, D. Farrugia 6, K. Xuereb 14, M. Borg, M. Brincat 9, M. Mallia 9, A. Chomo 12

Athleta: N. Bukva 11, F. Mifsud Bonnici 6, J. Wait, L. Stefanovic 9, N. Xuereb 18, M. Gouder 20, I. Xuereb, S. Vincic 2, R. Abela 2

Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, Z. Dobrosavljevic

Starlites withstand last, hectic Luxol forays

Starlites GIG 77 Bupa Luxol 75 (17-17, 24-20, 15-22, 21-16)

Starlites: A. Felice Pace 12, J. Zammit 5, B. Zammit, R. Bonnici 13, I. Felice Pace 5, M. Fabri, M. Vella, M. Scerri 10, R. Carabott 2, T. McConico 22, A. Xuereb, R. Ahearn 8

Luxol: R. Rutkauskas, K. Gauci 3, J. Cefai 13, E. Caruana Montaldo, JP Schembri 11, L. Trapani, I. Pace 2, K. Elder 34, S. Opejlevic, A. Arrington 12, S. Cappello

Referees: K. Dworniczak, Simic, V. Nicolic

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