Recap

Valletta edged past Athleta in a thrilling BOV Men’s Division One clash on Sunday, with Piotr Stelmach leading the charge with an impressive 37-point performance. Stelmach and teammate Francesco Mifsud Bonnici, both former Athleta players who moved to Valletta over the summer, played a pivotal role in their new club’s hard-fought victory.

Valletta began the game strongly, with Stelmach scoring nine of their first 12 points. His dominance in the paint, coupled with Eric Terry’s second-chance points, gave Valletta a commanding 23-12 lead by the end of the first quarter. Athleta’s Maxwell Amoafo, making his debut, opened his account with a three-pointer, while Kurt James contributed efficiently in the paint.

Athleta showed resilience in the second quarter, as James and Caleb Matthews led a spirited effort to close the gap. Matthews added five points in quick succession, but Valletta maintained control through steady scoring from Stelmach and Lorenzo Anderson. Anderson’s driving layup and a well-timed three-pointer stretched Valletta’s lead to 38-28 at halftime.

The third quarter saw Stelmach continue his stellar performance, adding a hook shot and a three-pointer to his tally. Nicholas Grech also chipped in with a three-pointer, keeping Valletta’s lead intact. Athleta’s James countered with a flurry of points, including a three-pointer and layup, but Valletta’s balanced scoring ensured they entered the final quarter with a 57-44 advantage.

Athleta staged a late comeback in the fourth quarter. Matthews found his groove, scoring consistently from the free-throw line and on fast breaks, while Luca Borg hit a clutch three-pointer to bring Athleta within two points at 73-71 with just eight seconds remaining. However, Valletta’s composure in the final moments proved decisive, with Anderson calmly sinking two free throws to seal the victory.