Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/810144
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 12 APRIL 2017 20 Sport SPORTTODAY MOUNTAIN BIKE RACING BASKETBALL Malta Mountain Bike Associations' Race Calendar progresses Two Races scheduled for April THE Malta Mountain Bike As- sociation's National Points Se- ries for both Cross Country and Downhill Races will continue this month with the third Cross Country Race and second Down- hill Race taking place on Sunday 16 April and Saturday 22nd April respectively. BDO Malta Cross Country Series The third race of the BDO Mal- ta Cross Country Series will take cyclists to the Majjistral Park in the northern part of the island. Famed for its breathtaking scen- ery, the Park is known to offer some technical and tricky sec- tions along the route which will definitely offer a tough challenge for the riders taking part. With both Patrick Scicluna and Etienne Bonello each bagging a win from the first two races, Sun- day's race promises to be yet again a highly contested one between the two elite riders apart from having to deal with the expected challenge from two other riders close on their heel, namely, Mark Bonnici and current XC Elite champion Maurice Formosa. The Ladies category shall again see the participation of recent Tour ta' Malta winner Marie Claire Aquilina continue with her current good form, this time un- der different and more demand- ing surroundings. Downhill Series The second race of the Dowhnill Series will take place on Saturday 22 April on the Selmun Clay Slopes – this location was used for last year's national champion- ships however the organisers will be introducing some technical adjustments to the fast, free flow- ing and twisty trail which will definitely put the riders' technical prowess to the test. With just one race in the bag and with no clear favourite, the Series title is still very much wide open. The 2017 Cross Country Series is being supported BDO Malta and by Magri Cycles, Carm & Co Ltd (SIS products) and Island Beverages (H20nly). Whilst the Downhill Series is being support- ed by HSN Signs, Wheel Wizard, Pro Action, Dacoby and Epic No Limits. For the Association's latest news and calendar of events, please vis- it - http://www.maltamountain- bike.org.mt and Facebook and Instagram pages. Alternatively contact the Association on info@ maltamountainbike.org.mt Luxol and Floriana to contest BOV Basketball Final Playoff BUPA Luxol and Floriana MCP Car Parks will contest the best-of-5 BOV Basketball Playoff final. Luxol booked their berth in the final with a 3-0 win over Gzira Athleta while Floriana MCP Car Parks had to go to the last game in the best-of-five semi-final to overcome Cynergi Depiro. Paul Sultana, President of the Malta Bas- ketball Association and Peter Perotti, Chief Officer at Bank of Valletta addressed the media in the presence of John Tabone and Pierce Cumpstone, Luxol's Head Coach and foreign player, and Ian Mercieca and Chad Patus, president and foreign player for Flo- riana respectively. Paul Sultana thanked Bank of Valletta for its continuous support and augured the best performance to both teams. 'This will be the last final played in this Basketball pavilion,' said Mr Sultana. 'Once all com- petitions are over, works on a permanent construction will commence that we hope to inaugurate before the start of the next basketball season.' Peter Perotti echoed the president's wish- es to the teams and said 'As a very long term supporter of the Malta Basketball As- sociation, we are looking forward to a hard- fought final with a high level of play as we have become accustomed this season.' 'We are confident of having a complete team heading into this final, with the ideal players in each position' said Luxol coach John Tabone. 'Our morale is high, though not over-confident and with Pierce here be- side me and big Sam Deguara, we will be fighting for the 13th league trophy in our history'. 'This is my first year playing outside the US and I must say that the level of com- petition is much higher than I originally expected' said Pierce Cumpstone. 'We are confident that the team is motivated and prepared to take home the silverware.' 'We are fully aware that we are heading into this final as the under-dogs,' said Ian Mercieca. 'We will be missing Shawn Pace due to injury but with the returning Dirk Schembri, Chad's experience and the rest of the team, we can pull off another victory like we did in the semi-finals.' 'It has been an up-and-down year for us, that culminated in a very intense semi-final which was ultimately decided in the final seconds of game 5' said Floriana's Canadian import Chad Patus. 'We know that it will be a tough playoff, which will be very physi- cally testing after the semi-final but we will go into each game with the fighting spirit that we have demonstrated throughout the season.' The Final Playoff matches as follows: Game 1 – Saturday 15th April – 4.30pm Game 2 – Wednesday 19th April – 7.30pm Game 3 – Sunday 23rd April – 4.30pm Game 4 – Saturday 29th April – 4.30pm Game 5 – Monday 1st May – 4.30pm