Pembroke Athleta 64

Footwork 48

(16-8, 18-12, 19-13, 11-15)

Pembroke made it four out of four against Footwork this season. They had a certain control which made it difficult for Footwork to break and their coordination unsettled their opponents no end.

Footwork, though, are still in contention for a place in the play-offs. Pembroke had Michael Pisani indisposed. Footwork kept pace with their adversaries at the start of the match but then Pembroke made a 7-0 run to break clear, and though Footwork recovered till the end of the quarter, it was Pembroke, with Michael Galea sinking a trey, who had a good 16-8 first session lead.

The second session saw Footwork trying to insert themselves more in the game, but Pembroke's fluid play enabled them to pierce their opponents' defence with an 8-0 run, and a Duncan Cuschieri trey for a 26-14 advantage.

Footwork reacted but could only share the play, as Pembroke held firm.

At the interval, the score was 34-20 in favour of Pembroke.

After the break, Pembroke still kept a stranglehold on the game. At first, Footwork held their own, but a 7-0 run emphasised Pembroke's control and later on, they added treys by Cuschieri and Julian Naudi.

Footwork finished the session on a good note with an Addison Bonnici trey and Eman Xuereb's hoop, for a 53-33 score after three sessions.

In the final quarter, the game continued on its usual format at first, but when it seemed all over, Footwork produced a 9-0 run with an Ian Mercieca trey to make it a 56-46 game.

Pembroke eased their minds with a brace of Matthew Zammit hoops so that they could ensure a trouble-free ending to the game.

Pembroke: M. Naudi 18, J. Naudi 9, M. Zammit 17, E. Bezzina 6, J. Galea, T. Degiorgio, J. Zammit, JP Azzopardi, D. Cuschieri 12, J. Ransley, D. Ross 2.

Footwork: L. Camilleri 1, S. Sammut 6, I. Mercieca 5, C. Sammut 18, M. Barberi 2, JP Bonnici, A. Bonnici 10, A. Huizer, E. Xuereb 6.

Referees: B. Vassallo, S. Micallef.