Pembroke drew first blood in the tussle for the championship title, as both sides were involved in an exciting match, which went right down to the wire.

A determining factor was Julian Naudi coming off the bench for Pembroke, to stifle Hamrun’s Omar Said, and the champions became short of ideas for the rest of the game.

Hamrun’s Alan Borg started a two-match suspension, while Pembroke had Duncan Cuschieri missing, besides Matthew Zammit.

Pembroke had a quiet start, as the champions went into an 8-3 lead.

Despite pressing from Pembroke, it was Liberty who extended their lead. In the last part of the session Pembroke managed to share the play, but Hamrun still held on to their lead.

In the second quarter, an Omar Said trey started Liberty off again, but after gaining a 20-11 lead it was Pembroke with the better ideas, as they picked up a 9-0 run.

Hamrun stopped them with an Addison Bonnici hoop, but Pembroke were still on song, going ahead.

Liberty pulled back to just a hoop down, and then it was late points for Pembroke in a 30-25 interval score.

After the break, Etienne Bezzina was given too much space, and he sank in his treys, as Pembroke went into a 43-34 lead. Liberty were foul hit, but came back again with Albert Spiteri points leading the way and Abraham Portelli following up, with a strong 14-0 run, to take the lead.

Pembroke recovered at the end and Michael Naudi sank a trey in the final seconds of the quarter, for a 48-48 tie.

In the final session, it was Hamrun who forged in the lead with close range hoops, but they lost Albert Spiteri on fouls. Pembroke clawed themselves back and tied the game with less than three minutes to go. A Julian Naudi trey gave Pembroke a late lead, but Liberty came right back as Steve Pace also sank a trey.

In the final minute Pembroke lost four free shots but a Liberty turnover at the end presented Pembroke with the easiest of chances to seal the match.

Hamrun: 17, Omar Said;12 Steve Pace; 12 Albert Spiteri; 12 Addison Bonnici

Pembroke: 26 Michael Naudi; 15 Etienne Bezzina

Refs: B.Vassallo, JPSammut