Recap

Luxol parted ways with top-scoring centre Tariq Woody ahead of Sunday’s clash with Depiro, with club representatives confirming that the Violets had agreed to his release after numerous internal issues throughout his time at the club. 

Woody’s point-tally could have been the final piece to overcome the Mtarfa side as Luxol fell to a 25-point defeat in Sunday’s final game.

Cameron Cornelius was Depiro’s main driver in the opening minutes of the game, hitting the team’s first five points in between Luxol scores from Nathan Xuereb and Marko Matijevic. It was a fast start by Luxol who took over on offence, JP Schembri hitting twice from three before a Xuereb long-ranger. However, Kameron Rooks, already in double digits, kept it a one-point game at the first buzzer.

Luxol’s Nikola Jovanovic opened the second-quarter scoring from mid-range before Alfred Hollins jr hit from three to tie things up. Nevertheless, another Xuereb threeball put the Violets back ahead. 

Depiro changed leads midway through the rubber but Luxol remained as close as ever to finish the first half down 41-37.

After the break, Depiro stuck to their earlier momentum to increase their lead through Rooks and Cornelius but Luxol replied with a Schembri three and a Gael Hulsen layup to come to parity.

Schembri fired from deep once more to give Luxol the lead as Depiro coach Ruben Baldacchino called a timeout. 

The Mtarfa side levelled and to their advantage, a Hulsen foul gave them the bonus. This motivation led them to push up to a 13-point lead at the end of the third quarter after two consecutive threes from Miguel Brincat.

The final quarter would be make or break but when Baldacchino’s clan made it a 23-point game four minutes into play, it became a mighty task for Luxol to come back. They managed to get into the bonus with minutes to go but as it became clear that a winner had been confirmed, both sides rotated their five for the final moments of the game.