Sliema kept their top of the table standing, with their third successive win over Floriana this season. There were moments when lackadaisical play by Sliema permitted the Greens to go close, but when Sliema stepped up their pace they could always go clear.

The match was highlighted with a grand Roderick Mifsud dunk in full flight, in the last session.

Sliema had their injured players, Michael Naudi and Adrian Micallef. Floriana had Robert Spiteri back, after missing some games.

Noel Abela’s three point play started the game for Floriana, but Sliema went 6-3 in front, with a number of free throws. Floriana didn’t recover, and Sliema put in a good 12-0 run, with an Omar Said trey. The Greens managed some points near the end of the session, but Sliema were quite in front, on a double figure lead.

In the second session Sliema started putting in their young bench players. The Blues made a 7-2 run, but Floriana responded well, with a couple of treys, by Don Ross and Noel Falzon.

Sliema were stung into action, and an 8-2 run, with treys by Omar Said and Julian Galea, restored their lead, on a 34-17 score.

Till the end of the quarter Sliema were slack in their play, and Gareth Gilson went behind the defence to put in three hoops in a row for Floriana.

At the interval Sliema were leading 36-25.

After the break Sliema took the game in hand again, and a 9-2 run, with Silvio Cassar working well.

Karl Borg sank a trey for Floriana, and then the Greens hit Sliema hard, with a 10-0 run, starting with another Borg trey, for a 40-47 score.

Sliema reacted at last, and a 10-1 run with treys by Kristin Baldacchino and again by Omar Said. Then just like the previous session, Floriana had a good ending, with another three hoops, for a closer 57-47 score.

In the last quarter the Blues began with a Baldacchino trey, and he added on more points. Floriana tried to keep in touch, but they were still being hit, and a 9-0 run pushed Sliema further in front.

Floriana’s retaliation brought them scant consolation, as Sliema’s bench players, all on court, proceeded to pile up the points in a good ending, including a Jonathan Zammit trey, for a satisfying final score.

SLIEMA: A. Southward, 3 J. Zammit, 2 C. Calleja, 7 E. Bezzina, 3 J. Galea, 4 T. Vella, 31 O. Said, 8 D. Cuschieri, 10 K. Baldacchino, 17 S. Cassar, 2 J. Gatt

FLORIANA: R. Spiteri, 8 N. Falzon, J. Paris, 3 A. Sultana, 6 B. Riolo, 6 K. Borg, 12 G. Gilson, 15 R. Mifsud, G. Gauci Grech, 6 D. Ross

REFEREES: Gordon Barbara, Stephen Micallef, Alfred Carbonaro

Siggiewi Smina 72

Qormi Kia 30

(17-13)(17-9)(20-4)(18-4)

Siggiewi went back on level terms with Sliema, at the top of the standings, although in second place on direct encounters.

Qormi proved a tough nut to crack at first, but Siggiewi’s overall strength came through in the second part of the match, and they could involve nearly all of the players, as they strolled through to their third successive win over Qormi.

Siggiewi recovered JP Bonnici, from his sojourn abroad, and Albert Spiteri made an appearance, but only on the bench. Anthony Huizre’s place was taken by Steve Sammut. Qormi, fresh from their victory over Floriana, were in their standard formation.

Right at the start Antoine Grech put in a trey for Qormi, but Siggiewi came right out and made an 8-0 run. Qormi were undaunted, and tied the score twice. Siggiewi turned to long distance shooting, and David Camilleri came off the bench to sink in a couple of treys. Qormi could only reply through free throws, as Siggiewi held on to their advantage.

In the second quarter Siggiewi tried to put distance between the two teams early on, and JP Azzopardi made his trey, but Wayne Grixti did likewise for Qormi, at the other end. Qormi were still holding on midway through the session, at 22-27. Louis Camilleri then made points for Siggiewi, as they finished the quarter on a 7-0 run, to edge away on a 34-22 lead at the interval.

After the break things went better for Siggiewi, playing with more confidence. After suffering an early hoop, Siggiewi then went on a 13-0 run, finding each other with ease, and pulling clear.

Qormi could only add a further hoop, as Siggiewi defended stoutly, and also added another 7-0 run. After three sessions they had their minds at rest, on a 54-26 scoreline.

The last session served for open play and try outs. Siggiewi showed their mastery, but not so much in points made, as they continued to increase their lead.

With the result in no doubt Qormi found space for their young bench players to get a piece of the action. The scoring went down, and Qormi couldn’t improve much on their tally. John Doughty closed down the match for Siggiewi, with his trey.

SIGGIEWI: A. Spiteri, 12 L. Camilleri, 10 D. Camilleri, 5 J. Doughty, 6 A. Portelli, 10 JP Azzopardi, 3 P. Shoults, 4 JP Bonnici, 13 A. Bonnici, 2 M. Shoults, S. Sammut, 7 E. Xuereb

QORMI: 13 W. Grixti, 3 A. Grech, 2 K. Scicluna, J. Anastasi, A. Camilleri, S. Farrugia, 2 R. Formosa, 2 J. Dalli, 2 R. Baldacchino, 2 C. Bugeja, 4 S. Cauchi, A. Baldacchino

REFEREES: Bernrad Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani, Jean Paul Sammut