Mosta salvaged a win in the latter stages of the game, after they had trailed for a good part of it. Thus they keep pace with the two teams at the top of the rankings. It was their double over Loyola this season.

Actually Mosta had a good opening, leading 10-4. Both sides were making their treys as Mosta just held on to lead after the first quarter.

Loyola came on nicely in the second session, battling Mosta all the way, and then a couple of Jean Falzon treys put them in front, and at the interval they were leading 28-20.

Mosta took less than two minutes to go back in front again, after the break, but Loyola had other ideas, and their treys again helped them on, to lead by a maximum 45-35 score at the end of the third session, as Mosta failed to combine their play.

In the last quarter it was Adrian Pace’s treys which dragged Mosta back, although Loyola were still in front.

Mosta persevered, and an 11-2 run saw them forge in front, at 56-54.

Loyola went ahead again for the last time through a Sam Farrugia trey, but Mosta relied on their free throws, as Loyola sought possession. Ray Muscat made the game sure with 20 seconds to go.

Mosta: 14 Ray Muscat, 14 Steve Gouder, 13 Adrian Pace

Loyola: 13 Jean Falzon, 11 Trevor Grech

Referees: Carlo Farrugia, Alfred Carbonaro

Mellieha SVS 35

Qormi Kia 55

(6-10)(18-12)(6-25)(5-8)

Qormi went to the top of the table as sole leaders, a win ahead of the same Mellieha and Mosta. They also avenged their first-round defeat against Mellieha in the opening game of the league.

Antoine Grech started Qormi off with his four hoops, before Mellieha could begin their reaction, and reduce the deficit till the end of the opening session.

Mellieha then turned the result around at the start of the second quarter, and though Qormi went back in front with an Adrian Baldacchino trey, it was Mellieha who persisted and Grahan Coleiro gave them a half time lead, on a 24-22 score.

After the break Qormi took the game by the scruff of the neck and a 12-0 run established their dominance. Mellieha had a slight recovery, with a Matthew Cauchi trey, but Qormi kept marching on with another 9-0 run till the end of the session, on a 47-30 advantage.

In the final quarter Qormi started where they left off, with another 8-0 run, to set their minds at rest. The scoring started to die down as Qormi put in their subs, and had to suffer some Mellieha pressing, which brought them the last points of the game.

Mellieha: 9 Samuel Aquilina

Qormi: 19 Antoine Grech, 12 Keith Scicluna

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Jean Paul Sammut

SN Suns Bell Med 57

Floriana 49

(14-10)(14-7)(13-16)(16-16)

Suns remain in the hunt for the top placing, leaving Floriana in the doldrums, at the bottom of the standings.

It was Suns’ double over Floriana, but the Greens must be commended for the fighting spirit they infuse in their game, despite the obvious superiority of their opponents.

Floriana held an early lead, with an Anthony Shoults trey (he managed to sink eight of them throughout the match), but Suns responded with a 10-0 run, before being stopped by another Shoults trey.

In the second session Suns opened up with another 10-2 run, to widen their advantage. Floriana replied at the end of the session, and a further Shoults trey brought the interval score to 28-17.

After the break, and a period of even play, the Greens struck a bright patch, and a 14-2 run, including two Shoults’ specials, saw them breathing down Suns’ necks.

The Siggiewi side recovered through Mark Schembri’s trey, and after three sessions the Suns led 41-33.

In the final quarter Suns had a positive opening, with an 11-2 run, and three long shots. They then let the initiative pass into Floriana’s hands and the Greens turned up a more than respectable score, as Shoults ended the match with two more treys to his credit.

Suns were happy to keep Floriana just out of distance.

Suns: 13 Mark Schembri

Floriana: 28 Anthony Shoults, 10 Glenn Gauci Grech

Referees: Carlo Farrugia, Alfred Carbonaro

Standings: 11 Qormi Kia (5-1), 10 Mellieha SVS (4-2), 10 Mosta (4-2), 8 SN Suns Bell Med (3-2), 6 Loyola Xuereb Inst. (1-4), 6 Floriana (0-6)