Recap

SiGMA Depiro cruised to victory on Sunday, this time against Valletta Fighters. Depiro’s Andrew Aquilina profited off a miscommunication on Valletta’s first offensive possession, speeding to lay the ball up into the hoop before hitting twice from three on his next attempts. Meanwhile, Desean Mattox returned from injury in the previous week to open his account in the game with two three-balls himself.

The Citizens guard went on to score 11 points as the only Valletta scorer in the quarter while Depiro led by 10 at the buzzer.

Valletta’s Keith Charleston got his first points of the day in the second quarter with two straight scores before Nikola Bozovic replied for Depiro. Mattox, Charleston, and Andy Attard all hit from three to make it a one-point game midway through the rubber. Depiro’s Hollins Jr hit two of two freethrows but Valletta’s Neil Cassar fired a bow-and-arrow celebration after adding another three-ball as the teams were tied with four minutes to go in the first half.

Nevertheless, a late surge from the Mtarfa side pushed their lead to eight before the break, despite being in foul trouble.

Valletta’s Attard opened the second half with a long-range score as coach Harry Savaya’s clan attempted a comeback. However, Depiro continued their positive streak to go 20 points ahead with 3.57 until the final rubber.

Depiro’s Hollins Jr may have only played one game with the club prior to Sunday, but he staked his claim as the top performer of the encounter with a 23-point showing and was his side’s driver in the fourth quarter as coach Ruben Baldacchino’s clan maintained a 24-point advantage to win the game.