The champions were missing their captain Albert Spiteri and they felt his non-presence on court as Pembroke opened up briskly into a 9-0 run. Hamrun’s reply came mostly from free throws, going to 9-13 down. Pembroke picked up again and held off Liberty till the end of the session.
Hamrun seemed to find their way back after a three-point start to the second quarter, but Pembroke had a quick reply and a 7-0 run. Then play started swinging on both sides and when Liberty made points to reduce their deficit there were Pembroke bobbing up to restore their lead. They kept this up till the interval, preserving their lead, and a 34-27 score.
After the break, a determined Liberty took the game to Pembroke and managed to tie the game at 36 all.
Pembroke gritted their teeth and went right back in front again. Hamrun went to within a point but Pembroke resisted and held on to their lead despite Liberty’s frantic efforts to make up the leeway.
Pembroke managed to sink their free shots and a Bezzina basket made it 52-46 after three sessions.
The start of the last quarter was disastrous for the champions as Adrian Micallef sank three hoops as Pembroke drew definitely away with a 12-2 run, leaving Liberty no options in th efinal minutes.
Points were still frequent at both ends but Pembroke’s lead was enough to see them through, leaving their debacle by Depiro beind them and handing the champions their first defeat.
Hamrun L: S. Pace 15, k. Borg , d. Camilleri 9, A. Borg, A. Portelli 12, O. Said 12, J. Jetson 6, A. Bonnici 5, N. Falzon, C. Grixti
Pembroke: M. Naudi 27, J. Zammit, E. Barbara 11, J. Galea, T. Riolo 6, C. Calleja, A. Micallef 9, D. Cuschieri 5, K. Baldacchino 15, J. Ransley, J. Gatt 5
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Stephen Micallef
Depiro Kyocera 49
BUPA Luxol 73
(10-23) (9-21) (18-16) (12-13)
Both sides were coming from a win and fielded unchanged teams. Luxol, wary of Depiro’s swift openings, embarked on a 7-0 run of their own.
Although Depiro came back to a two-point deficit, at 8-10, they were hit again by some great Luxol play, which produced a session which checked Depiro’s efforts thoroughly for a 23-10 score.
In the second session Depiro still couldn’t make any headway as Luxol romped to a 9-0 run. Chris Sammut limped off court but Luxol were still in command although Depiro managed some points of their own. However the Violets had no trouble in adding to their lead and at the break they were 44-19 ahead.
After the interval Luxol started off a little bit complacent and Depiro put in a spurt, bagging a good 14-2 run starting and ending with a trey.
Luxol settled down and came right back to extend their lead again and after three sessions it was a 60-37 match.
The last session began with some Luxol pressing enabling them to increase their lead. Depiro had a reply with a couple of baskets and then their best players went on the bench, mindful of next weekend’s important match against Siggiewi.
By then Luxol were also having it easy and the game petered off with Luxol’s second win as their bench players finished the game on court.
Depiro: R. Vella 4, J. Vassallo 2, J. Rodriguez, C. Bugeja, C. Agius 4, J. Vella 10, M. Ciantar 2, J.P. Azzopardi 1, E. Lupo 5, D. Ross 15, M. Mallia 2, D. Agius 4
Luxol: C. Sammut 8, M. Mercieca 5, r. Azzopardi 11, M. Micallef, R. Schembri, . Pulis, R. Dalli, D. Schembri 22, E. Caruana Montaldo, S. Cassar 13, C. Schembri 14
Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Gordon Barbara