Mosta couldn’t do it this time either, losing a 14-point lead at the end of the third session, as Suns came back strongly. The latter have now recovered two games and face Mosta again in the fifth and final game.

Mosta opened up well in the first few seconds, through a Ray Muscat trey, but Suns didn’t take long to reply, and a Mark Schembri trey put them 5-4 ahead. Ray Muscat’s second trey put Mosta ahead once more but Suns forged ahead for the second time, and kept their lead till the end of the session, on a 15-14 score.

In the second session Suns held on to their lead for some time but then Mosta took over as Suns faltered. A 10-0 run helped them on to a 28-19 lead before Suns could regroup themselves.

This they did and a good finish to the session, and some good shooting, brought them close again as Mosta’s lead was narrowed down to a 30-26 score at the interval.

After the break Suns tied the game, after scoring a trey through Mark Schembri but Mosta once more took command, and a long 12-2 run, with Mark Spiteri concluding well, helped them on to a 43-33 advantage. Suns tried to narrow the gap once more but Mosta were ready this time and held on to their lead. After three sessions it was a 49-37 game.

In the last session Suns went out on fire. Mosta were hit hard as Suns came to within three points, at 48-57 down.

An Albert Borg trey brought them closer still but Mosta recovered and increased their lead once more. Suns lost Albert Borg on fouls and Mosta lost Sassoon Saakian.

Mosta’s lead went down and Suns first tied the score then went ahead. Mosta couldn’t reply and Suns made sure at the end to force the fifth and final decider.

Suns: A Camilleri 4, R Camilleri 13, A Borg 5, M Schembri 19, G Bugeja 10, R Buhagiar 4, R Camilleri 10, E Baldacchino.

Mosta: B Portelli, S Saakian 10, S Schembri, R Abela 8, R Muscat 23, J Paris 4, M Spiteri 12, O Sammut 4, C Bonnici, K Fabri 1.

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Alfred Carbonaro