Balkan dominant in abandoned encounter
Balkan Fusion 66 Marvels Power 18 (17-7, 34-15, 15-8)
Abandoned in the 3rd session This match left a sour taste as it ended prematurely a little over two minutes left for play in the third session as the Marvels Serbian player Marco Majic lost his cool.
After arguing with one of his team mates during a time out, he somehow took offence when one of the referees tried to calm down the situation. When Majic received a technical foul against him, he showed severe dissent and was sent off for his pains. He was still protesting loudly as he was accompanied off by the other Marvels players only to return and throw something presumably a bottle - at the officiating table. The referees abandoned the match at that stage.
As usual, the Balkans had a changed side with Marcos Hernandes returning after some matches and Nenad Bukva also back.
A new player was introduced - Bogdan Mrkojevic - but missing were Namanja Radicevic Miroslav Stjepanovic and Alex Parunicic. Marvels had their Estonian player Andres Toompere.
Balkans dominated the match as they opened up an advantage in the opening session with new boy Mrkojevic netting a couple of triples and Hernandes making another one.
Marvels were hit more badly in the next period as Balkan made a heavy 21-0 run before marvels could reply.
Sergi Jorba sank a brace of triples with more from Hernandes and Zika Stankovic and Nikola Stankovic was Balkans’ best scorer.
At the interval Balkans led 51-15.
After the break, Balkans were still leaving their opponents further behind with Jorba nailing another trey in an 11-0 run which preceded Majic’s outburst on the bench and resulted in the dismissal of the match by the officials.
Balkan: I. Kumric 4, S. Opojevlic 4, B. Ilic, S. Jorba 11, Z. Stankovic 5, N. Bukva 3, N. Stankovic 17, M. Hernandes 10, B. Mrkojevic 12
Marvels: G. Borg, N. Guida 1, M. Majic 8, R. Curmi, D. Debattista,D. Verebries, L. Azzopardi 4, A. Morris, C. Briffa 5, K. Mizzi, D. Borg, A. Toompere
Referees: N. Azzopardi, K. Dworniczak