Recap

Missing the injured quartet of Neil Cassar, Ulhas Satyanarayan, Andy Attard, and Desean Mattox, Valletta introduced no less than three new players to their roster with Daniel Massa, Francesco Orifici and Delano Covarrcubis making their first impact on the team on Sunday. However, it was Athleta who cruised past with a 65-point victory.

Athleta forward Matthew Gouder started the scoring with Naz Buhagiar getting the next score after a Francesco Mifsud Bonnici steal. Centre Matthew Farrugia hit first for Valletta with a mid-range effort. 

It was a strong start from Christos Kousidis’ side, opening a double-digit advantage and eventually holding a 23-point lead at the end of the first quarter. On the other hand, Harry Savaya’s Citizens looked rattled, losing possession to intelligent Juan Cefai interceptions on several occasions. 

The floodgates reopened with the start of the second quarter as Malik Riddle one of two free throws but made amends with a dunk to get the scoring going again. Meanwhile, the Citizens were still on that first Farrugia basket in what became a 40-point game midway through the rubber. 

Valletta finally hit back with a Massa freethrow and a Covarrcubis mid-range jumper but Piotr Stelmach cancelled the points out with a three-ball. This Athleta dominance continued before the teams went back to their dressing rooms for halftime 51 points apart.

Athleta’s Gouder hit four straight points to start the second half Farrugia drained from mid-range to aid Valletta’s consolation. Covarrcubis and Sassoun Saakian both hit from three-point range but Athleta were in no mood for easing up, leading by 61 ahead of the final rubber.

The fourth quarter was time for Athleta’s youths to make their mark on the game as Kousidis rotated his five, leaving Theodoros Chatzimoysis to lead a younger pack of players on court. The Maroons continued to push, overcoming the 100-point mark and taking the victory at the final buzzer.