Footwork 81
Hamrun L. Go Mobile 89
(15-16)(23-18)(14-25)(29-30)
A high scoring match between these two teams produced an entertaining game as Hamrun had to come from behind to keep their top placing. Several players registered high scores as both sides displayed progress in shooting.
Footwork presented a depleted side for this match, with Addison Bonnici on the injured list, and Louis Camilleri also missing.
Both sides had a quiet start, as Liberty grabbed the first lead, at 6-2. Footwork replied with a Chris Sammut trey, and going into the lead, Hamrun replied quickly, and Alan Borg’s trey helped his side to a lead once more. Footwork’s insistence brought them to just a point down, at 15-16 after the first session.
The second session saw Footwork going in front only for Hamrun to regain the lead, at 25-22. Footwork came back strongly, hitting Hamrun with an 11-2 run.
Liberty rallied slowly, and with several subs on court they came back, but not enough, as Footwork’s free throws kept them in front at the interval, on a 38-34 score.
After the break Footwork hit Liberty again with two treys, going 46-36 ahead, but it was a signal for Hamrun, as they stormed forward with a 9-0 run. Footwork recovered briefly to lead 50-45 but Liberty were not to be denied and another 12-0 run pushed them in front. After three sessions it was Hamrun at 59-52.
The last quarter was Hamrun’s again as they kept on pressing Footwork and another 14-2 run pushed them clear.
Footwork reacted and Chris Sammut distinguished himself with more hoops, as Footwork rallied with a 9-3 run, and even a strong finish was not enough as Liberty controlled matters till the end with their subs.
Footwork: S Sammut 14, I Mercieca 8, C Sammut 41, M Barberi, JP Bonnici 6, E Xuereb 9, A Huizer 3.
Hamrun: S Pace 21, K Borg 3, D Camilleri 2, A Spiteri 26, A Borg 2, A Portelli 6, O Said 21, J Jetson 4, N Falzon, S Gouder 4.
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara.
BUPA Luxol 52
Pembroke Athleta 68
(8-22)(14-18)(16-11)(14-17)
Pembroke beat Luxol once more within a week to keep abreast of Hamrun, although on inferior basket difference. They built up an impressive lead, which served them well when Luxol were coming back. It is now a two horse race at the top.
Pembroke had a very positive start, as they denied Luxol and made off with a 13-0 run.
Rueben Dalli then stepped up for the Violets and made a personal 8-0 run, including a trey but Pembroke replied through Michael Naudi, who went one better and built up a personal 9-0 run, also including a trey, as Pembroke finished the first session on a 22-8 lead.
In the second quarter Pembroke kept a hold on the game, as they continued to increase their lead.
When on a 34-22 advantage, Luxol introduced Robert Camilleri on court and he replied with a couple of treys, but Luxol didn’t get any nearer and by the end of the session, at the interval it was still Pembroke on a good 40-22 lead, despite having their player, Michael Naudi, injured with a pulled muscle.
After the break Luxol made a determined effort and, though they were pulled back by Matthew Naudi, a 9-0 run brought them somewhat within the distance.
Pembroke had a reply as both sides registered treys and at the end of the third session it was a 38-51 game.
The last quarter found Luxol making their last bid to make up the leeway. Again treys were sinking on both sides as Luxol were slowly coming back.
It was a 51-57 game after Steve Schembri free throws, but Pembroke had JP Azzopardi sinking a trey to ease their minds and they controlled the rest of the game to run out comfortable winners.
Luxol: A Cremona, M Mercieca, R Azzopardi, M Micallef, D Schembri, B Micallef Trigona, M Bonnici, R Dalli, A Bianchi, E Caruana Montaldo, S Cassar, S Schembri.
Pembroke: M Naudi, J Naudi, M Zammit, E Bezzina, J Galea, L Fenech, T Degiorgio, JP Azzopardi, D Cuschieri, M Pisani, J Ransley, D Ross.
Referees: Carlo Farugia, Jean Paul Sammut.
League standings
11-1 Hamrun L. Go Mobile 23; 11-1 Pembroke Athleta 23; 5-7 Luxol Bupa 17; 5-7 Footwork 17; 4-8 Depiro Kyocera 16; 0-12 Siggiewi Smina 12.