Athleta make sure in the last session

Gzira Athleta 50 Depiro 41

(8-12, 16-8, 14-12, 12-9)

Athleta kept up their good record against Depiro this season winning their fifth game in six encounters.

They made the first step to advance to the final but had to do it the hard way as Depiro made it tough for them until the start of the last quarter when Athleta finally began to pull away without any suitable reply.

It was Depiro with the better opening and a 7-0 run by Carlee Schuhmacher and Maria Bonett. Athleta took time to settle down and began with a Denise Said Hollier trey.

Sam Brincat also netted a triple for Depiro who held their advantage till the end of the session.

The second period saw a more organised Athleta as Grima began to let loose in her scoring. She made nearly all of her side’s second session points and a period ending 102 run had Athleta overturning the score to go into the interval on a 2420 advantage.

After the break, Athleta began to stretch their lead at first. A Beverlee Zammit trey in an 8-2 start had them enjoying a double digit lead.

Depiro reacted with a 7-0 run going much closer. Simmons made a three hoop personal spread with Gaby Mifsud ending the session with a Depiro triple.

At that stage, Athleta were leading 38-32. Sam Brincat’s brace of hoops had Depiro a whisker away but Athleta then took command and proceeded to make up an 8-0 run ending with a Leanne Sciberras triple.

Depiro upped their hopes with a second Mifsud triple but as time ran out Athleta sealed their victory with further points to take the first step into the final. Athleta: M. Stefanovic, C. Grima 18, B. Zammit 3, L. Sciberras 4, A. Simmons 15, D. Said Hollier 4, A. Borg, J. Schembri , S. Vella 6. Depiro: A. Mifsud 2, G. Mifsud 6, M. Balzaraviciute, S. Brincat 10, M. Bonett 9, N. Agius, M. Scicluna, C. Schumacher 8, J. Xuereb, T. DeMartino 2, C. Ciantar 4 Referees: G. Barbara, I. Simic, I. Marjanovic