BUPA Luxol 75
Siggiewi Smina 38
(25-11, 17-10, 16-7, 17-10)
Luxol repeated their first round Kinnie League success over Siggiewi as they started their run for a play-off place.
They had a good time against an open Siggiewi defence and this win came at an ideal moment after their recent reverses in different competitions.
Both sides were hit by injuries or otherwise with Luxol missing Silvio Cassar and Steve Schembri while Siggiewi had B. Riolo and Daniel Bugeja absent.
After an early Siggiewi hoop, it was Luxol who replied with an
8-0 run as Robert Azzopardi made his first trey.
Siggiewi recovered to go to just a basket down, at 9-11, but Azzopardi’s second trey started off a Luxol long 14-2 run till the end of the session, as the Violets led 25-11.
In the second quarter, Luxol kept on pressing their opponents and a further 10-2 run enabled them to steer clear but when it seemed all one-sided, Siggiewi came up with a 7-0 run of their own, exploiting Luxol’s carelessness.
Luxol, however, recovered enough to restore their large lead till the end of the session and at the half-time buzzer, Robert Azzopardi sank his third trey, for a 42-21 score.
After the break, Luxol took no chances and continued to extend their lead, although Chris Griscti managed a trey for Siggiewi.
Luxol took over once more with a 9-0 run as Robert Azzopardi kept up his trey sequence.
Siggiewi put in their contribution at the end of the session which finished with a 58-28 score.
Play was more open in the final session but the points kept becoming scarcer.
Luxol had no worries and brought on their substitutes. Siggiewi were still falling behind as Luxol returned to winning ways after their negative results in their last matches.
Luxol: A. Cremona 6, M. Mercieca 15, R. Azzopardi 32, M. Micallef, D. Schembri 6, B. Micallef Trigona, M. Bonnici, A. bianchi 10, E. Caruana Montaldo 4, R. Dalli 2.
Siggiewi: P. Ferrante 4, P. Falzon 2, H. Agius 2, R. Mifsud 2, A. Farrugia 2, C. Griscti 10, J. Gatt 16, J. Doughty.
Referees: Carlo Farrugia, Gordon Barbara.