St. James Hospital League Men Under 19 Final

Athleta     73     Starlites    62    

(14-14, 20-20, 16-19, 23-9)

Gzira Athleta: R. Zammit, F. Mifsud Bonnici 13, J. Wait 13, L. Stefanovic 11, D. Desira, N. Xuereb 13, C. Schembri, S. Vincic 18, E. Sciberras

Starlites: M. Fabri , M. Azzopardi 17, M. Schembri, I. Felice Pace, M. Vella, I. Pace, A. Felice Pace 34, A. Vella Cardona, M. Scerri, Q. Bugeja 5, A. Xuereb 6, T. Grech

Referees:B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, I. Marjanovic

 

The under 19 men final was decided in the last quarter after that both finalists had kept head to head in the first three quarters.

Both the first and the second quarters ended with a tied score at 14-14 and 34-34 respectively.

Starlites were led by Alec Felice Pace who tried his best and grabbed a good tally of points even if closely marked throughout the game.

On the other hand, Gzira Athleta, who had beaten Starlites in the regular season, had a wider spread of players, most of which also featured well in the second division.

The final got off to a balanced start with Mirco Azzopardi notchign Starlites’ first hoops whilst Athleta replied through Nathan Xuereb, Julian Wait and Francesco Mifsud Bonnici.

Athleta did manage to open a good lead in the second quarter after treys from Luca Stefanovic and Stefan Vincic but Starlites quicky neutralized it with a 13-2 run with Felice Pace well in the midst of the action.

Similar to the second quarter, Gzira Athleta opened a small lead in the third quarter but Starlites came back strongly in the final moments of the same quarter and long distance shots from Azzopardi and Quinton Bugeja put them 53-50 ahead.

Both teams remiend head to head for the first half of the last quarter but then Gzira Athleta got some quick hoops from Xuereb and Wait to open a slender lead to which Starlites could not reply as Gzira continued to extend their lead.

MBA President Paul Sultana presented the championship trophy to Gzira Athleta’s captain Mifsud Bonnici amidst celebrations by the winning side.

 

 

St. James Hospital League Women Under 19 Women Final

 

Starlites     49     Depiro     32                  

(12-8, 8-8, 18-5, 11-11)

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina, K. Galea 13, M. Ferrante, L. Ferrante, D. Agius 3, K. Pirotta 6, J. Micallef 15, E. Magrin 1, A. Micallef 8, K. Zerafa 1, M. Cuschieri 2, M. Riolo

Depiro: Nic. Agius 21, A. Baluci, M. Balzaraviciute 6, J. Mallia, L. Camilleri 1, M. Micallef 1, Noe. Agius , L. Vella 3, L. Agius, C. Fenech, G. Baluci

Referees: C. Farrugia, I. Simic, M. Rajczi

 

A strong third quarter performance helped Starlites to the under 19 women title. Depiro did try their best but Starlites were the better side on the day and ended up as merited winners.

The first half, albeit a very low scoring one with most players feeling the importance of the final, was a balanced affair even though Starlites had most of the upper hand. Depiro, however, did throw in a challenge and even had the first lead with Nicole Agius and Laura vella scoring the baskets.

Starlites, who had beaten the same opponents twice in the regular season, rpelied with an eight point run and consecutive points from Kirsty Galea helped them go in front.

In the second quarter Mante Balzaraviciute tried hard to inspire Depiro and the blues did stay very close as it was only two late hoops from Jaelle Micallef which helped Starlites to a slender 20-16 half time lead.

Starlites dominated the play when action resumed after the interval as they opened a double digit lead whilst keeping their opponents to just five points in the quarter.

With a 38-21 advantage, Starlites could control the tempo in the final quarter as hoops from Anthea Micallef and Kim Pirotta ascertained their victory.

After the final, Starlites’ captain Galea was presented with the league trophy by the MBA President Paul Sultana.