Pembroke Athleta 82
Hamrun L. Go Mobile 69
(21-12) (9-18) (20-10) (11-21) - (21-8) a.e.t.
Pembroke came back from the dead at the end of the match to force the game into extra time and then dealt the killer blow as Liberty faded away after Albert Spiteri’s fifth foul. It now goes on to the fourth game.
After a cautious start Pembroke went into action and a Bezzina trey started them off. Hamrun’s shooting was wayward and Pembroke put in a 9-0 run before Spiteri made a trey for Liberty, but Pembroke were still putting in their hoops for a 21-6 lead. Hamrun recovered at the end of the session but Pembroke were still leading 21-12.
In the second session Hamrun came out fine with a strong 18-2 run, the protagonist being Steve Pace, to take a 30-23 lead.
Pembroke got over the shock and Michael Naudi took the game in hand and made up the difference to tie the game. At the interval it was a 30-30 match.
After the break it was Pembroke once more in control. They put in an 11-2 run, including a Cuschieri trey, before Liberty could start to get back in the game.
They cut down the deficit but were again hit by a Cuschieri trey as Pembroke held on to their lead till the end of the third session on a 50-40 score.
In the fourth session Hamrun tried to get back in the game early.
They were thwarted by Pembroke at first but then they kept storming forward and Pembroke’s lead started to wither.
Liberty levelled at 52-52.
The lead changed hands twice before Liberty went 58-56 ahead with a Borg trey. Pembroke saved the game at 61-61 to go into extra time.
The extra minutes were at first balanced but then Michael Naudi took over again and with his personal points decided the game as he pushed Pembroke’s lead still further for his team to force the fourth game next Thursday.
Pembroke: M. Naudi 35, J. Naudi 8, M. Zammit 9, E. Bezzina 18, J. Galea, C. Calleja, J. Zammit, J. P. Azzopardi 2, D. Cuschieri 8, J. Ransley 2, D. Ross
Hamrun: S. Pace 24, K Borg , D. Camilleri, A. Spiteri 13, A. Borg 6, A. Portelli 6, O. Said 18, J. Jetson 2, N. Falzon, I. Terribile, A. Sultana , S. Gouder
Referees: Carlo Farrugia, Stephen Micallef