Liberty made it three wins with another emphatic victory, to make the final once more, and defend the title won last year.
Siggiewi put in their contribution, and they were also in the lead, up to the start of the second session, but then Hamrun turned on the heat, took the game in hand, and steered clear of their opponents.
Siggiewi had a depleted side from their last game. Adrian Sultana and Eman Xuereb were missing, as were Steve Sammut and JP Bonnici, due to their exams.
At first it was Anthony Huizer making the points for Siggiewi, and Alan Borg replying for Liberty. A 7-0 run, with an Omar Said trey, pushed Hamrun ahead, but Siggiewi tied at 12-12, with a Louis Camilleri trey. In the latter stages of the session it was Peter Shoults with his personal points, including a trey, to put Siggiewi in front.
In the second quarter Liberty opened with a David Camilleri trey, but Siggiewi held on to their lead, with a 24-19 score. After a time out Hamrun produced flowing play with a 10-0 run. Peter Shoults again made personal points, to put Siggiewi just a point down.
Liberty hit Siggiewi again, this time with a 12-0 run, ending with a couple of treys, and although Matthew Shoults also put in a trey for Siggiewi, it was Hamrun in front at the interval, on a 43-32 score.
After the break Liberty kept putting pressure on their opponents, and extending their lead. Every time that Siggiewi started to cut down their deficit, Hamrun always found space to put in their hoops, and it was Addison Bonnici and Alan Borg who bagged most of the points. After three sessions it was a 65-46 game.
In the final quarter Siggiewi were still on the recieving end, as Liberty went on a maximum 71-47 lead, but then some careless play permitted Siggiewi to register a good 15-2 run, with three treys, and it became a closer game, at 73-62. Hamrun made the necessary points to make sure of the match, and the remaining part was theirs to put on some style.
Hamrun: 19 Alan Borg, 18 Addison Bonnici, 14 Albert Spiteri, 13 Omar Said
Siggiewi: 28 Peter Shoults, 18 Anthony Huizer
Refs: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani
Pembroke 73
BUPA Luxol 54
(18-8)(14-19)(17-9)(24-18)
Pembroke went ahead in the series, for the first time, and now another win will put them in their fifth final of the season. They were led by Michael Naudi, who netted five treys, and Luxol could only produce a comeback in the second session.
Pembroke had Matthew Zammit back in the squad, in lieu of Clayton Calleja, whilst Julian Naudi, who arrived late, was omitted from the starting list, and could not play.
Luxol included Robert Azzopardi, missing in their last two games. Pembroke were in a confident mood at the start, and after some initial play they took the game in hand, and a long 14-2 run, with a couple of Michael Naudi treys, established their lead. Reuben Dalli sank a trey for Luxol at the end of the session.
In the second quarter a series of treys pushed Pembroke further ahead, on a 27-12 score, but Luxol grittily came back with some determined play. In fact till the end of the session only an Etienne Bezzina trey stopped Luxol in a 13-3 run. At the interval it was a 32-27 game, as the Violets came back in the reckoning.
After the break there were more Michael Naudi treys, in an 8-2 run. Luxol recovered with a Steve Schembri trey, but Pembroke’s forcing earned them another 8-1 run.
The Violets were chopping and changing their players continuously, to find a winning formula, but Pembroke held on to their lead, and after three sessions they enjoyed a 49-36 advantage.
In the final quarter Pembroke promptly put in a 7-0 run, to dispel any doubts about the outcome of the game. Luxol tried to press but Pembroke made use of the whole court to spray their passes, and then dealt killing blows, with their deadly finishing.
At the end both teams put in their bench players, as the match had long been won and lost. The fourth game is to be played tomorrow.
Pembroke: 23 Michael Naudi, 12 Adrian Micallef
Luxol: 15 Steve Schembri, 11 Silvio Cassar
Refs: JP Sammut, S. Micallef