Luxol are a match away from the final

Bupa Luxol Gzira Athleta 85 77

Luxol carried on, from their opening game victory, obtaining a second win, and are now poised well, just a game away from the final. Athleta now have a mountain to climb, if they want to secure their place in the final, having to win the next three encounters.

If not, they will not only fail to gain a final place, after so many years of doing so in succession, but they will also lose out in the Super Cup, as they have also lost the K.O. to Hibernians. The match was tight till the last stages, when the Violets pulled away, to secure their victory, and set their sights on a league title success.

The start of the match had both sides alternating in their points grabbing, as Samuel Deguara dominated the zone, and Athleta's replies coming from triples, by David Camilleri and Billy Zammit, for a tie in the score.

Luxol then pulled away, with William Ahlberg points. Athleta were back, with another Josiah Whitehead trey, bit Floriana managed to extend their lead, till the end of the session. The next period began with more treys, Ahlberg for Luxol and Peter Shoults for Athleta. who went just a point behind.

Later on, Luxol opened up their advantage again, but Shoults and Roderick Vella treys took Athleta in front, for the first time. Luxol's answer was a 9-0 run, with a JP Schembri trey, and more Deguara hoops. Michael Naudi reduced Athleta's deficit, with a brace of hoops, but they were still 39-42 behind, at the interval.

After the break Athleta grabbed another lead, with a 7-0 run, and a Naudi triple. Then it was Camilleri with his second trey, but Floriana were still close. Vella sank another triple for Athleta, but they couldn’t shake off the Greens, who then made up a 9-2 run, with an Ahlberg trey, to forge in front.

They didn't last long, as Athleta regained their advantage, with Vella netting another trey, as his side went into the last quarter on a slight 65-63 lead. Floriana were quickly on level terms, but Athleta had Shoults and Vella with more triples. Floriana slowly drew closer, and Schembri sank his second triple. Athleta were again in front, went behind with a Pierce Cumpstone Luxol trey, but Morakinjo Williams put them in front once more.

Their points haul stopped there, as the Violets pushed forward, in the game's last stages, making up a 9-0 match ending run, nearly all from Ahlberg, as he coolly put in the free throws, when Athleta tried to stop the clock.

Luxol: CJ Cordina 6, M. Mercieca, J. Maistre JP Schembri 8, K. Dimech 2, W. Ahlberg 21, P. Cumpstone 17, S. Deguara 31, S. Cappello

Athleta: M. Naudi 18, R. Vella 12, D. Camilleri 11, M. Williams 10, P. Shoults 13, F. Mifsud Bonnici, B. Zammit 3, L. Stefanovic, S. Vincic, M. Gauci Montaldo, J. Whitehead 10

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, I. Simic