Miscela D’Oro Mtarfa 40

Siggiewi 56

(10-10, 10-11, 5-17, 15-18)

Siggiewi maintained their unbeaten seasonal record till their final match when they disposed of Mtarfa’s challenge to win their third straight honour and this KO for the very first time.

Mtarfa stayed close for a good part of the match even after the interval but they couldn’t match their opponents as they lost their third game against Siggiewi.

Mtarfa had Jarnis Viibe suspended. David Cini was recovered and young Nicholas Grech was included. Siggiewi were with their usual standard side.

Both sides were affected by the atmosphere at first and the scoring suffered. Siggiewi replied to Mtarfa’s opening hoop by putting in a long 8-2 run.

Mtarfa had Joe Vella sinking a triple and Petar Vulovic kept on with his points for Siggiewi. It was Jeffrey Gatt with his free shots to tie the score for Mtarfa before the end of the period.

In the next session, Siggiewi had to suffer more Mtarfa insistence and Shawn Baldacchino netted a triple for the latter team. Siggiewi twice went in front but Mtarfa somehow always returned to regain their advantage.

In the latter stages, Siggiewi managed to eke out a slim lead and at the interval they were leading 21-20.

After the break, Mtarfa went ahead once more but Clayton Agius netted a triple for Siggiewi and this began a

7-0 run in which Mtarfa lost Jeffrey Gatt on fouls.

Mtarfa could only reply through free throws but Siggiewi made up a 10-0 run with more triples from Agius once more and Matthew Shoults when they established a 38-25 score.

Mtarfa went for a quick revival in the last session putting in three hoops but Siggiewi’s reply was a second Shoults trey which started a good 11-2 run and practically decided the match.

Mtarfa had nothing left in reserve and Siggiewi strolled through the rest of the match with their bench players on court.

At the end of the encounter, Tanya Gravina, Manager Marketing at Bank of Valletta, presented the trophy to Petar Vulovic, captain of Siggiewi, as his side celebrated their memorable season (photo).

Mtarfa: 10 S. Baldacchino,   J. Attard,  N. Grech, 2 D. Schembri, 8  J. Vella, A. Psaila, 4 D. Cini, 14  J. Gatt, C. Calleja

Siggiewi: 10 P. Vulovic, 2  JP Antoncic, 8 C. Agius, 10 M. Shoults, 11 L. Grech, 4 A. Borg, 2 N. Falzon,  E. Vella,  A. Debattista, 6 A. Shoults, 3 G. Agius, K. Farrugia

Referees: A. Carbonaro, S. Gouder