In a thrilling game of mixed for tunes, Hamrun made the first inroad in the final, beating Pembroke with a late rally.

Treys rained in from both sides as the two teams had their good moments, but it was Liberty who triumphed at the end.

After some sterile play by both sides, Hamrun started off with an Alan Borg trey and followed up with a 10-3 run, helped by an Omar Said trey.

Pembroke started to settle down and it was a closer 12-10 game as Hamrun held out till the final seconds when Michael Naudi put Pembroke just ahead, at 17-16.

In the second session, Pembroke went on to increase their lead, starting with an Etienne Bezzina trey, but Liberty then started hitting back and an 8-0 run, ending with a Karl Borg trey, tied the match at 24-24.

That was only a signal for Pembroke to embark on a 10-0 run with a couple of treys.

Hamrun did not faze out and they came back strongly as they cut down the deficit. Personal points by Omar Said made it just a one-point game: 36-35 for Pembroke.

After the break, Pembroke kept their lead for some time as both sides made treys. Hamrun lost Abraham Portelli on fouls and then went ahead thanks to Karl Borg’s treys, as he kept sinking them in.

Pembroke kept pressing after Hamrun who, however, kept their lead on a 58-55 score, after three sessions.

In the final quarter, after some treys by both sides, it was Michael Naudi who took the game in hand and turned the result around. Liberty just got stuck in and went back in front on a 69-63 score with their free-shots.

A Steve Pace trey gave them room as Pembroke desperately sought to make up the difference. Hamrun kept calm and played out time to start the five-game series with a win.

Pembroke: M. Naudi 31, J. Naudi 8, M. Zammit 8, E. Bezzina 8, J. Galea, C. Calleja, J. Zammit, JP Azzopardi, D. Cuschieri 9, M. Pisani 3, J. Ransley, D. Ross.

Hamrun L.: S. Pace 15, K. Borg 17, D. Camilleri, A. Spiteri 12, A. Borg 4, A. Portelli 5, O. Said 22, J. Jetson 2, N. Falzon, I. Terribile, A. Sultana, S. Gouder.