Mellieha consolidate their top position

Hibernians 92 Mellieha Libertas 100 (20‑26, 19‑17, 21‑22, 32‑35)

Just a week ago Mellieha were at the wrong end of a drubbing, suffering a heavy 89‐114 defeat, at the hands of the Paolites. This time it was a different kettle of fish, as the league leaders opened up a gap at the top of the stand‐ ings, in front of Starlite, thus also avenging their loss. They still had Samuel Zammit missing, through injury, but they recovered their Serbian player, Vukasin Jandric, who obl;iged with a hatful of points, as did their usual top scorer, the American, Connor Zi‐ naich, playing in front of his grandparents, who came to see him from the United States. Hibs fielded the same side who had won so convincingly a week be‐ fore, but this time suffered their fourth defeat. from five matches against the Northerners.

Mellieha had the brighter start, going to a 7‐2 lead, before being pegged back by a triple from hibs' Anton Axiaq. Mellieha picked up again, to extend their advantage, as Jandric sank a trey. The Pao‐ lites went to within a hoop, as Matthew Attard also netted , along with Luke Farrugia, but Zi‐ naich was on hand, till the end of the quarter, to take his side 26‐20 ahead. In the next session Serbian, Nikola Jovanovic, put in a triple for Mellieha, but Hibs were again just a bucket beyhind, before Jandric made his second trey, Hibs were twice a point shy of their oppo‐ nents, but the end of the period had Mellieha hanging on to their lead, with a 43‐39 score.

After the break Mellieha pulled away, as Jandric sank a brace of quick triples. Hibs replied with an 8‐0 run, but were stopped by a David Bugeja trey, as he found his scoring touch. The Paolites grittily went back to a basket in arrears, with Mellieha then going into the last session on a 65‐60 score. Hibs were held back by their adver‐ saries, until Mellieha went to their triples again, with Jandric and twice Bugeja putting theirs in, to open up a double figure advan‐ tage. , as Zinaich continued to pierce the opposing defence. Hibs put in a late rally, with a spate of triples, from American, Justin Bogle, Serbian, Ivan Demcesen, who finished up as the game's top scorer.

Attard and Farrugia. They came within the distance, but then were thwarted by the next Mellieha points, as Zinaich put the issue without any doubt, as Mellieha registered their eighth league vic‐ tory, two wins ahead of second placed Starlites.

Hibs: N. Cassar 9, P. Attard 2, L. Attard , L. Farrugia 6, L. Borg , A.

Axiaq 17, R. Aquilina , M. Attard 13, J. Bogle 11, M. Bezzina , I. Dem‐ cesen 34, G. Cassar

Mellieha: M. Falzon , D. Bugeja 17, R. Bonnici , V. Jandric 28, I. Bonett 4, N. Bukva 2, N. Jovanovic 5, C. Zinaich 44, M. Formosa , O. Said

Referees: B. vassallo, F. Ciurariu, B. Mrkojevic

Depiro claim league double over Starlites in a week

Starlites Fijo 71 Depiro 89 (12‑19, 26‑27, 20‑20, 13‑23)

Starlites: A. Felice Pace 11, M. Attard 6, M. Barbara , M. Fabri 4, L. Riolo 2, M. Scerri 16, R. Carabott , L. Farrugia 5, N. Sul‐ tana , D. George 27

Depiro: S. Galea 2, J. Micallef 3, A. Aquilina 6, N. Grech 4, K. Rooks 25, M. Brincat 16, M.

Mallia 1, C. Cornelius 27, M. De‐ battista , K. Caruana 5

Referees: B. Vassallo, F. Ciu‐ rariu, B. Mrkojevic

Luxol are practically in the Play Offs

Bupa Luxol 98 Gzira Athleta 79 (24‑21. 28‑21, 30‑20, 16‑17 )

Luxol: J. Cefai , N. Vasovic 21, M. Sciberras , T. Bell 22, N. En‐ gelbert , JP Schembri 14, A. Tra‐ pani , L. Trapani V. Englin , T. Mattos 32, M. Matijevic 5, S. Cappello 4

Athleta: J. Ellul Dowling , H. Van Herk 6, F. Mifsud Bonnici 6, N. Buhagiar 2, P. Shoults 9, L. Stefanovic 9, N. Xuereb 13, R. Griffen 34, I. Xuereb , I. medved 4, B. Zammit

Referees: D. Torok, Z. Do‐ brosavljevic, I. Ciurariu