Athleta had to fight hard for their victory
Gzira Athleta 60 Mellieha Tritones 54 (16-15, 13-15, 11-6, 20-18)
Athleta made the first step into the final and they kept their unbeaten record for this seaosn but this was their toughest game yet as Mellieha gave their all but only just failed in their objective.
This time Athleta had to wait until the last stages of the encounter to produce their victory as Mellieha stayed close and also managed to jump ahead of their opponents at odd intervals.
Athleta had Francesco Mifsud Bonnici abroad but recovered Joshua Aquilina Luca Stefanovic and Dabiel Buhagiar.
Mellieha were without Ben Aquilina and John Muscat but had Ian Terribile back in the squad.
Nathan Xuereb netted the opening two Athleta hoops which were his only contribution for this match. Mellieha answered with a 7-0 run and a Clint Grixti trey.
Athleta went back in front but Mellieha regained their advantage with a three basket spread. Athleta came up with an 8-0 run and Mellieha pulled a hoop back.
In the next period Athleta’s 7-0 start had them on a better advantage. Mellieha reacted well with a 9-2 run and an Ian Terribile triple. Athleta overtook their opponents but a second Grixti trey had Mellieha just ahead at the interval on a tight 30-29 score.
After the break, Kwame Thompson the life and soul of the side had Athleta again ahead Mellieha were level with both teams then netting their triples with Thompson at one end and terribile also sinking his second for Mellieha.
A brace of Thompson hoops gave Athleta another lead this time on a 40-36 score. In the last quarter Mellieha worked out another advantage with a 7-2 run and another Terribile trey.
Athleta’s three hoop spread pushed them in front with Mellieha chasing them all the wayMore Thompson points and a second triple had Athleta opening up their advantage.
Mellieha made a final effort with Terribile nailing a fourth trey but they fell short, as Athleta held on to their lead, and now they are a match away from the final.
R. Zammit, M. Giusti 2,, J. Wait 2, J. Aquilina 1, L. Stefanovic, M. Gauci Montaldo, N. Xuereb 4, K. Thompson 38, C. Schembri, S. Vincic 9, M. Cilia 4, D. Buhagiar
C. Grixti 10, M. Farrugia, N. Petrucci 1, R. Loporto 5, I. Terribile 13, J. Vibe, D. Miani 11, S. Aquilina 6, B. Soler 8
Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, J. Mangani
Lost free shots cost Siggiewi the match
Siggiewi St. Nicholas 53 Marvels Power Plus 54 (12-10, 5-18, 12-16, 24-10)
Statistics show that Marvela made the first step to make it to the final as they drew first blood against the supposedly in-from Siggiewi side.
Marvels who built up a solid advantage after the interval very nearly blew it all away as a Siggiewi revival in the last session nearly gave them the goods but Marvels obtained the winning point to register their victory.
In this late Siggiewi rally, despite the fact that they made up their heavy deficit they lost too many free throws which would have given them the verdict but which would have been grossly unfair to Marvels who played a sound match for most of the time.
Siggiewi were again without Lee Grech and Slavko Opejevlic but they had the return of Svens Niedritis. Marvels fielded Luke Azzopardi for the first time in a number of encounters.
Siggiewi were three times in front at the start with Andres Toompere then netting a Marvels trey.
Hubert Agius points took Siggiewi in front with Marvels pulling a hoop back.
In the second period, an 8-0 run by Jonathan Ransley and Toompere took Marvels ahead. Niedritis kept Siggiewi close as he netted all of his side’s point in this session but Marvels ended the period with an 8-1 run as Azzopardi sank a triple and his side were 28-17 in front at the interval.
After the break, Siggiewi tried hard but were erratic as Ransley punished them under the boards.
Then it was triples for Marvels from Azzopardi twice more and Darren Debattista in between as their side opened up their advantage to a 44-29 score.
The last sesison had Marvels still controlling the situation at first. Siggiewi put in a good spurt in mid-session which had them cutting down quickly on their deficit. An 11-0 run by Kieth Scicluna and Niedritis brought them strongly in contention.
Marvels recovered with a brace of hoops but Roberto Alosco free shots had them tying the score even though they had earlier wasted innumerable others.
Little time remained with Darryl Pisani netting a sole free throw besides others missed but which was just enough for Marvel to claim the win which takes them just a win away from the final.
JP Antoncic 5, K., Scicluna 13, S. Niedritis 11, H. Agius 6, G. Agius 4, R. Alosco 10, Ro. Camilleri, Re. Camilleri, J. Camilleri, K. Arvanitekis 4
L. Azzopardi 11, D. Massa, D. Pisani 7, R. Curmi, D. Debattista 5, K. Maruda, D. Garcia, C. Briffa 6, A. Morris, J. Ransley 15, A. Toompere 10
B. Vassallo, E. Mangani. J. Mangani