The Malta Independent on Sunday
Athleta tie the series for the second time
Basketball - Women’s Final (4)
Caffe Moak Luxol 59 Gzira Athleta 61 (15-24, 16-8, 14-14, 14-15)
Luxol twice managed to take a game lead over their adversaries, but Athleta came back each time. This time Luxol were chasing the league title, with a third, deciding victory, but this eluded them. Both times that Athleta beat their rivals, there was only a trickle of points difference.
This fourth encounter finished with a mere basket difference, as Athleta grimly held out, after losing their star player, Christina Grima, on fouls, less than two minuted from the final buzzer. True, Athleta had opened up good advantages, but teh champions surpassed these awkward moments, to forge ahead, but they were chasing frantically at the end, and they didn't make ends meet, with Athleta just keeping their noses in front, to force the fifth, and last final next Monday.
Athleta started with a hoop and an Antoinette Borg trey, but this early advantage was surpassed by the champions, with an 8-2 run. Athleta then poured in three more triples, again, by Borg, and two more, from Leanne Sciberras, to open up a better lead. Christine Curmi points were not enough for the Violets, as two late hoops had Athleta sitting comfortably.
In the next session Athleta drew further away, with a three hoop spread, and a brace of Amelia Simmons hoops. Luxol suddenly co-ordinated their play, making up a heavy 12-0 run, going back seriously in contention, and although they were atopped, there was Steffi DeMartino, with a personal three basket spread, taking her side just a point away, on a tight 31-32 score, at the interval.
After the break the score was level, after an Munir free shot, but Athleta jolted their opponents, with triples, by Beverlee Zammit and Grima. Luxol brushed this annoyance aside, and proceeded to build up another solid 14-0 run.
Beginning with DeMartino points. They strode in front, only to be pulled back, by a late surge from athleta, with a spate of free throws and another Sciberras trey, right at the end of the period, to grab a single point advantage, at 46-45.
In the last quarter Luxol's points were being answered well, with Simmons points and another Zammit triple. Luxol were back, as Paula Ellul netted a trey. Athleta edged away again, but lost Grima.
Luxol sensed their moment, and a number of free shots, mostly from Minir, had them breathing down Athleta's necks. Borg gave the Athleta side a push, with her hoop. DeMarttino made Luxol free throws, and missed some, as they still trailed their opponents, with Denise Said Hollier finally netting a free throw for Athleta, which put more pressure on the champions. It was not to be for Luxol, who saw their league title hopes fade away, in this match, but everything is for grabs, in two days' time, when there is no going back, or forward, this time, in the fifth, and last, deciding final.
Luxol: S. Pace, M. Mercieca, A. Munir, I. Baena Medina, S. DeMartino, K. Portelli, C. Sollami, P. Ellul, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Darmanin, C. Curmi
Athleta: M. Stefanovic, C. Grima, B. Zammit, L. Sciberras, A. Simmons, D. Said Hollier, A. Borg, J. Schembri, S. Vella, A. Debenay, C. Mifsud
Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, I. Simic