Depiro repeat K.O. final victory

Balkan Fusion 82 Depiro 91 (19-21, 19-26, 14-28, 30-16)

This high scoring match definitely went Depiro's way after the interval. Balkan finished in top position, after a double round campaign, and two wins over the same Depiro, but they had already been beaten by Depiro, in a K.O. final, and suffered the same fate in this opening Play Off semifinal.

Depiro did not steal anything and were well worth their victory. Balkan had no answer to Jack Nygaard's triples, as Depiro swept past them, to take a first step into the final. Balkan are missing Nikola Stankovic, who is back in Serbia, and Miloslav Stjepanovic was also missing.

There was a balanced start to the match, with Bogdan Ilic leading the charge for Balkan, and Depiro making their triples, three from Nygaard and another by Kurt Xuereb, with Depiro nudging past their opponents, with two late Matthew Borg free throws.

In the second period Ivan Kumric netted Balkan's opening trey, but Depiro still had Nygaard pouring in his triples, four of them.

Xuereb also sank a second trey, and Adam Chomo contributed with his points, to counter more Ilic points, and at the interval Depiro had opened a 47-38 advantage.

After the break Balkan began to lose contact more. It was Borg with a Depiro triple, and Nicholas Borg went on court, to put in his points. Balkan had Alex Perunicic as a main striker, but Depiro were drifting further ahead, and a late 7-0 run enhanced their advantage, to a 7552 score.

In the last quarter Balkan fared better. Their first efforts had Depiro again resorting to triples, from the same Nygaard, with two more, and Xuereb. With Depiro certain of their victory Balkan made a last determined stance, making up a good 16-2 run, as Bogdan Mrkojevic, Nemania Radicevic and Ilic, sank treys, the latter in the last second of the match, for a better scoreline, but which still leaves Balkan chasing Depiro, in the next encounter, which will be on Friday.

N. Radicevic 8, B. Ilic 27, I. Kumric 9, S. Opojevlic 8, A. Perunicic 13, Z. Stankovic, B. Mrkojevic 12, N. Bukva 5

E. Briffa, A. Attard 2, N. Grech 12, J. Camilleri , A. Chomo 16, K. Xuereb 14, M. Borg 9, M. Zloh , M. Brincat, J. Nygaard 38, M. Debattista , J. Vibe

B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, E. Mangani