Recap

Athleta edged a thrilling encounter against Valletta Lions, clinching victory in dramatic fashion as Billy-Joel Zammit sealed the game with a three-pointer in the final second, capping a nail-biting fourth quarter.

Valletta started strong, with Nikola Vasovic scoring five early points, including a three-pointer to put his team ahead 5-0. Athleta responded through Robert Vitale and Maxwell Amoafo, but Former Athleta centre Piotr Stelmach’s sharp shooting kept Valletta in front. Kurt James’ late layups brought Athleta level at 18-18, but Nicholas Grech’s second-chance basket restored Valletta’s narrow lead at the end of the first quarter, 20-18.

The second quarter saw Valletta extend their advantage, as Eric Terry dominated inside, scoring consistently from free throws and the paint. Vasovic continued his impressive form, pushing Valletta to a 34-27 lead. Athleta’s Caleb Matthews and Juan Cefai Garcia sparked a rally with quick baskets to cut the deficit to three points. Despite Stelmach’s persistence, Athleta’s defence tightened, allowing Kurt James to score just before the break. Valletta held a slim 42-39 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Francesco Mifsud Bonnici, who later achieved a triple-double, opened with a three-pointer, energising Valletta. Athleta surged ahead for the first time after Isaac Xuereb and Matthews hit consecutive three-pointers. The lead swung back and forth, with Amoafo’s strong inside play helping Athleta pull away slightly. By the end of the quarter, Athleta held a 66-56 lead, thanks to Amoafo’s dominant scoring.

The fourth quarter was a tense affair. Valletta fought back with Vasovic and Terry closing the gap. Mifsud Bonnici added key free throws, and Stelmach’s layup tied the game at 80-80 with just over a minute remaining. Matthews responded with a jump shot to reclaim the lead for Athleta, but Stelmach tied it again at 82-82. With one second on the clock, Zammit drained a three-pointer, sending Athleta’s bench into celebration and sealing the win.