Pembroke Athleta 77

BUPA Luxol 72

(21-23)(9-16)(19-15)(28-18)

Pembroke kept up their winning streak, and still grace the top of the table. They had to come from behind against a determined side, which still couldn’t finish up on the winning end, although beating Pembroke in the Shield final.

Pembroke included Marco Pisani, after his loan from Siggiewi, and Beppe Micallef Trigona was still an absentee for Luxol.

There was a furious start by both teams, as they stayed close to each other, with Pembroke replying to every Luxol hoop. Then the treys started pouring in. Pembroke grabbed a 17-12 lead, but Luxol hit back, with an 11-2 run, including two treys, to go in front. They kept their lead till the end of the session, on a 23-21 score.

In the second session Luxol managed to pull away, to lead 32-23, but Pembroke, bolstered by another Etienne Bezzina trey, returned to 30-34 down, but till the end of the quarter they were denied by a compact Luxol side, which found space to increase their lead. At the interval it was a 39-30 match.

After the break Pembroke put in their bid to make up the leeway. They got to a 40-45 deficit but Luxol hung on and then increased their lead again. Pembroke had to reduce the difference till the end of the session. They did but Luxol were still 54-49 in front after three sessions.

The final quarter saw Pembroke drawing level in a short time, and then going ahead just before losing Matthew Zammit. Luxol took the lead one more time, before Pembroke established a 67-61 lead.

Luxol had to take risks, but came to within a hoop. It was not enough as Pembroke held out, although they lost coach, Joe Galea, on his return from abroad, for comments passed.

Pembroke: M Naudi 30, J Naudi 13, M Zammit 6, E Bezzina 8, J Galea, JP Azzopardi 9, D Cuschieri 3, M Pisani 6, J Ransley, D Ross 2.

Luxol: A Cremona, M Mercieca 6, R Azzopardi 18, D Schembri 6, M Bonnici, R Dalli, A Bianchi 13, E Caruana Montaldo, S Cassar 12, S Schembri 17.

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara.

Depiro Kyocera 82

Siggiewi Smina 60

(17-16)(17-16)(18-15)(30-13)

Depiro returned to winning ways in the league, after four defeats, to do the double over Siggiewi. The score rather flatters Depiro, as Siggiewi gave a good account of themselves for most of the game, and it was only in the last session that they fell away.

Depiro recovered Peter Shoults, who missed their last match, and besides brother Anthony, there was also another brother, Matthew, making his top division debut.

Siggiewi started off with an Alex Farrugia trey, and they kept on holding the lead for some time, and another trey by Paul Ferrante gave them a 14-10 lead. Till the end of the session Depiro managed a 9-0 lead to go in front, and after the first session they led on a 17-16 score.

In the second session Depiro took the game in hand and a good 15-4 run pushed them to a 32-20 advantage. Siggiewi had a good recovery, and a 9-0 run, with Paul Ferrante’s trey, brought them to a close score. Before the end of the session it was Bernardo Riolo’s other trey that made it a 34-32 game, in Depiro’s lead, as Siggiewi kept returning.

After the interval, following a brief Siggiewi tie, Roderick Vella pushed Depiro ahead again, in a 12-0 run, but Siggiewi came back admirably, to tie again at 47-47. Vella had other ideas and once more restored Depiro’s lead, on a 52-47 score, after three sessions.

The final quarter proved costly to Siggiewi. They came back with yet another Alex Farrugia trey, but then were badly hit, with a 17-2 break, as Peter Shoults sank two treys. With such a lead, at 67-53, young Matthew Shoults was introduced on court and he promptly sank two hoops, to justify his inclusion. Depiro kept their lead to finish up comfortable winners.

Depiro: R. Vella 36, M Sammut, M Shoults 4, P Shoults 14, C Agius 6, J Vella 5, J Vassallo, M Ciantar, E Lupo 13, A Shoults, M Mallia, D Agius 4.

Siggiewi: D Bugeja, P Ferrante 11, P Falzon, J Doughty 5, H Agius 6, B Riolo 4, A Farrugia 12, C Grixti 3, J Gatt 19.

Referees: Carlo Farrugia, Jean Paul Sammut.

Standings: 7-0 Pembroke Athleta 14 pts; 6-1 Hamrun L Go Mobile 13 pts; 3-4 BUPA Luxol 10 pts; 3-4 Depiro Kyocera 10 pts; 2-5 Footwork 9 pts; 0-7 Siggiewi Smina 7 pts