Pembroke took a decisive step to hold on to the Cup won last season, against the same opponents. BUPA Luxol looked ill at ease throughout the whole match, without coach John Tabone to guide them, as he was tied up in work, and the Violets missed his guiding hand badly.

To their credit they came back strongly in the last quarter, as Pembroke frittered away an occasion to make the second game, on Sunday, an irrelevant one.

Luxol had Beppe Micallef Trigona missing, and Pembroke's Duncan Cuschieri only made an appearance in the closing minutes of the game. Pembroke had beaten Siggiewi and Hamrun on their way to the final, and Luxol, who had a bye, eliminated Depiro in the semis.

Pembroke had a good start, and a 7-0 run, with an Etienne Bezzina trey, had Luxol chasing from the start, although they recovered well, to advance to within a point, at 10-11.

Pembroke took the game in hand again and a Michael Naudi trey started a 10-0 run, snapped only by treys from Steve Schembri, on either side of the sessions. Both teams then continued with their treys, as Pembroke held on to their lead, and a 28-21 score.

Luxol crept up to within a basket, but Etienne Bezzina hit them again with a couple of treys, in an 8-0 run. The Violets made an effort but Pembroke were right on the ball, and slammed in another three hoops, for a comfortable 42-28 lead at the interval.

After the break Pembroke got off again, but after a couple of hoops they were held off with Chris Sammut's personal points, including a trey.

Pembroke shrugged off the moment and poured in a 10-0 run of their own, and a fifth Bezzina trey. Luxol stopped the slide but Pembroke were well in command, and ended the session on a high note, despite another Chris Sammut trey for Luxol.

After three sessions it was a hefty 68-44 lead for Pembroke.

In the final quarter, Luxol played like a team possessed. Starting with another trey, they held off Pembroke at first, but then they let loose with an 11-0 run, with Steve Schembri the protagonist.

Luxol lost two players on fouls to Pembroke's one, but at the end they were near enough to make the second final a playable one. Right at the buzzer Etienne Bezzina, a hero for Pembroke, with his eight treys, failed his three free throws, and a chance to increase his side's lead.

Pembroke: 28 Etienne Bezzina, 22 Michael Naudi, 21 Adrian Micallef

Luxol: 25 Chris Sammut, 21 Steve Schembri

Refs: E. Mangani, JP Sammut