Hamrun L Go-Mobile 64

BUPA Luxol 48

(18-8) (14-15) (11-12) (21-13)

Hamrun recovered from their second game defeat to go in front again in this balanced semi-final. Luxol were always in arrears and never managed to put Liberty under intense pressure. Hamrun’s shooters were on song, netting no less than 11 three-pointers.

Hamrun started in a strong mood and managed an 8-2 lead but Luxol settled down and went near, only to be hit by a couple of Liberty treys. Luxol didn’t recover and Hamrun could add to their tally with steals by Steve Pace and Alan Borg. After the first session it was an 18-8 match.

In the second quarter Luxol coordinated well for an 11-2 run with a Steve Schembri trey, getting to within a point, only to be pushed back by a resurgent Liberty sprint, helped by an Abraham Portelli trey, for a 27-19 score.

Luxol’s free throws reduced Hamrun’s lead again but an Omar Said trey restored the Reds’ lead again and at the interval they were 32-23 in front.

After the break the points were were scarcer as luxol tried to get back quickly in the game, but they were denied by Liberty as Omar Said sunk his third trey. Hamrun went 39-27 ahead but the Violets made a long 8-0 run to get back within contention. Till the end of the session Hamrun rallied back and another Omar Said trey made it a 43-35 match.

In the last quarter Luxol’s attempts came to naught as Hamrun made their treys from different players and their lead escalated on. Luxol were left behind as Liberty strode on to their second win and are now only a game away from their first play-off final.

Hamrun: S. Pace 16, K. Borg 4, D. Camilleri, A. Spiteri 2, A. Borg 5, A. Portelli 7, O. Said 22, J. Jetson 8, n. Falzon, I. Terribile, S. Gouder.

Luxol: A. Cremona 3, M. Mercieca 7, R. Azzopardi 3, M. Micallef, . Schembri 4, B. Micallef Trigona, R. Dalli, A. Bianchi, E. Caruana Montaldo, S. Cassar 18, S. Schembri 13

Referees: Carlo Farrugia, Stephen Micallef

Pembroke Athleta 86

Footwork 73

(16-21) (20-14) (25-16) (25-22)

Pembroke obtained the third win they needed to go into the final and defend the title already in their hands. They faced stiff opposition from Footwork but the latter had to bow out at the end.

It was Footwork who had the better start, going 6-2 ahead, but Pembroke relied on their treys to go in front. Footwork were always threatening and they managed to end the session with an 8-0 run, on a 21-16 lead.

In the second session Footwork kept up their momentum and managed to increase their lead further to a 29-19 score. Pembroke tried to hit back and they made it at their second attempt. At first Footwork resisted and actually managed to go back to a 35-24 lead, but then Pembroke took over and a 12-0 run, with a couple of treys , turned the result round.

Footwork went in at half-time in arrears for the first time, on a 35-36 score.

After the break Footwork kept pace for some time and were tying the match, when they were hit with a 9-0 run before they could get back in the match. They went 44-50 behind again but Pembroke took control again and some good penetration play and long distance shooting pushed them further ahead again.

Footwork managed a Chris Sammut trey at the end and after three sessions it was a 61-51 game.

The last quarter provided its moments.

Footwork were still in the hunt and despite Pembroke’s points and a further trey, Footwork cut down their deficit, but also lost Louis Camilleri, sent off for dissent. Pembroke kept their lead through Etienne Bezzina’s points and then Duncan Bezzina’s fourth trey killed off all Footwork’s hopes and Pembroke strolled to the final.

Pembroke: M. Naudi 20, J. Naudi 6, M. Zammit, E. Bezzina 20, J. Galea, C. Calleja, J. Zammit, JP Azzopardi 3, D. Cuschieri 16, M. Pisani 10, J. Ransley 6, D. Ross 5

Footwork: L. Camilleri 11, S. Sammut 16, I. Mercieca, C. Sammut 26, M. Barberi, JP Bonnici, A. Brincat 14, A. Huizer, E. Xuereb 4

Referees: Bernard Vassalo, Jean Paul Sammut