Luxol 58
Depiro 72
(16-16, 18-12, 6-22, 18-22)
Pavi Depiro were crowned womens champions for a fifth time in their history after they had the better of holders Luxol 72-58 in game five of the play-offs final and complete a 3-2 series victory.
After the two title rivals had shared the honours in the opening four matches of the series, everything was to be played for in yesterdays decisive match at the Ta Qali pavilion [read more]
Luxol 58 Depiro 72
(16-16, 18-12, 6-22, 18-22)
Pavi Depiro were crowned womens champions for a fifth time in their history after they had the better of holders Luxol 72-58 in game five of the play-offs final and complete a 3-2 series victory.
After the two title rivals had shared the honours in the opening four matches of the series, everything was to be played for in yesterdays decisive match at the Ta Qali pavilion.
There was little to separate either sides in the opening two sessions with the lead changing hands several times.
However, it was Luxol who seized the initiative late in the second session as they surged six points clear to go at the interval with a commanding 34-28 advan-tage.
But Depiro had no plans to go down without a fight as Luxol started to show some frailties in their game.
Luxol were guilty of some erratic passing and that played in favour of Depiro who took full advantage to open the last 10 minutes 50-40 ahead.
The outgoing champions tried hard to recover lost ground but Depiro stood firm as they cruised to a comfortable victory to the delight of their fans.
Depiros Latisha Belcher (187-F/C-88, college: E.Tenn.St.) was the games leading scorer with 28 points.
Luxol: S. Pace 19; M. Sciortino 7; C. C Medina, B. Naudi 12; J. Busuttil Gaerty, G. Zarb 7; P. Ellul 1, M. Williams 10; D. Muscat 2, K. Portelli, M. Darmanin.
Depiro: Andrea Mifsud (159-G-94) 3, G. Mifsud 3, F. Bianco 2, M. Bonett, S. De Martino 18; M. Mifsud, M. Scicluna, Latisha Belcher 28, S. Micallef, B. Zammit 18.
Refs: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro. Courtesy of: http://www.timesofmalta.com
PAVI Depiro claimed game 1 of the best of 5 series overcoming Luxol. Depiro celebrated a 76:54 victory. Game 2 is to be played on Wednesday at 19:30. [read more]
PAVI Depiro claimed game 1 of the best of 5 series overcoming Luxol. Depiro celebrated a 76:54 victory. Game 2 is to be played on Wednesday at 19:30.
Maltas aspirations of achieving a positive result at the upcoming Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) in Luxembourg received a boost after it was revealed that the womens basketball tournament has been reinstated in the competition programme.
Earlier this month, womens basketball was scratched from the 2013 GSSE schedule as financially-stricken Cyprus did not have enough funds to field a full team in Luxembourg [read more]
Maltas aspirations of achieving a positive result at the upcoming Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) in Luxembourg received a boost after it was revealed that the womens basketball tournament has been reinstated in the competition programme.
Earlier this month, womens basketball was scratched from the 2013 GSSE schedule as financially-stricken Cyprus did not have enough funds to field a full team in Luxembourg.
Cypruss withdrawal left only three teams in the tournament, Malta, Iceland and Luxembourg, thus forcing organisers to drop the event as competition rules state that a minimum of four nations must take part.
Julian Pace Bonello, the deputy president of the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC), confirmed that the Luxembourg GSSE organisers have given the go-ahead for the womens basketball tournament to take place. This came after Cyprus managed to secure financial assistance from various entities to send a full squad to compete in the week-long sports festival, to be held from May 27-June 1.
We are pleased that womens basketball is back on the Games programme, Pace Bonello told The Sunday Times.
When the organisers announced their initial decision to omit womens basketball and double trap shooting from the Games, we immediately began talks with several bodies to try and save the womens basketball, at least, given that our team were ranked among the favourites for gold.
The Malta Basketball Association also made contact with FIBA Europe and asked them to intervene. Fortunately, a solution has been found as Cyprus have received financial grants and will field a full contingent in the upcoming Games.
In the last few weeks, Cyprus, a dominant force in the GSSE, requested financial assistance from both the European Olympic Committee and the Luxembourg Olympic Committee so that they can send a full contingent to Luxembourg.
After protracted talks, it has now been confirmed that they have been given the financial backing, believed to be worth over 250,000, to compete at the Games.
The reinstatement of womens basketball in the Luxembourg Games boosts Maltas medal hopes. The Maltese girls won a gold medal in Malta 2003 and Cyprus 2009.
This time around, the team will be under the leadership of Italian coach Angela Adamoli who replaced Santino Coppa last year.
Meanwhile, the MOC are in the process of finalising team plans for the Games.
Rebecca Camilleri (long jump), Giselle Camilleri (10,000m) and Kevin Moore (400m) are the only runners who have achieved the MQS in the track and field events so far.
Foreign-based swimmers Matthew Zammit and Andrew Chetcuti have also qualified for the Games after clocking the requested MQS in the 50 and 100m freestyle events.
In table tennis, Malta could have three female players at the Games as Chinese-born Lu Pengfei and Jessica Pace, who represented Malta in Liechtenstein two years ago, are set to be joined by Slovakian-born player Victoria Lukanova.
Daniel Bajada is so far the only confirmed male player in the table-tennis team as Australia-based Simon Gerada has yet to give a definite reply on whether he will play for Malta in Luxembourg.
Tennis players Rosanne Dimech and Elaine Genovese will be playing in the womens singles and doubles while Matthew Asciak is the only confirmed name for the mens competition as Nick Camilleri is sidelined with injury.
In judo, Malta is set to field a full-strength team. The female judokas are Marcon Bezzina, Joanna Camilleri and Vanessa Frazer, who incidentally is Maltas Ambassador for Luxembourg. Jeremy Saywell, Murman Korcilava and Isaac Bezzina will lead the countrys challenge in the mens competitions.
The MOC have set a May 9 deadline for athletes to achieve the Minimum Qualifying Standard and secure a place in Team Malta. Courtesy of: http://www.timesofmalta.com
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