Recap

Mellieha Libertas showed their prowess when they overcame SiGMA Depiro in a clash between two sides aiming to challenge title holders Starlites in this season’s competitions.

Depiro captain Andrew Aquilina marked his return from injury with a quickfire three-pointer in the first possession.

The Mtarfa side opened a double-digit lead and were in the bonus with 4.30 to go in the first quarter. But Vukasin Jandric downed a three-ball and Kwame Thompson drove up for another two points to avoid a longer Depiro run.

Thompson and Nikola Bozovic started off the second quarter with long-distance scores on either side of the court before Joshua Tomasi slammed in the day’s first dunk.

Isaac Bonett brought the deficit to seven points before Jandric hit a corner three-pointer as the Northerners started to gain more traction. In fact, Tedrick Wolfe tied the game at 41-41 with an and-one play with 2.32 to go in the first half, the American on form to give his side a 10-point lead by the end of the half in a fast turnaround.

Miguel Brincat hit from deep for Depiro in between Thompson and Jandric triples as Mellieha were 13 points ahead two minutes into the third quarter. Depiro cut the deficit to as much as one but it was Mellieha up by three by the end of the third quarter.

The final rubber was undeniably as intense as ever with both sides laying siege on each other with the game tied after two minutes of play. Thompson and David Bugeja took charge of Mellieha’s scoring before Corrado Mercurio reopened a five-point gap. Wolfe made it nine with an acrobatic dunk and another two points off an interception.

Jandric fouled out with 2.28 to go but Eduardo Valdespina replaced him and hit from deep immediately. Cameron Cornelius did just the same to make it a four-point game but with Bozovic fouled out and both sides in the bonus, Wolfe called game with a set of made freethrows.