The top game in the opening weekend provided some great entertaining fare, and lived up to its billing. The two teams slugged it out to the very last second, and never gave each other any room throughout the whole match. To top it all the winning hoop came just three seconds from the final buzzer, leaving the good crowd present on tenterhooks.
Besides the change in their name, Sliema lured back their two lost sheep, Omar Said and Silvio Cassar, from Hamrun and Luxol respectively.. Siggiewi bagged four players from the defunct Hamrun outfit, namely, Albert Spiteri, david Camilleri, Abraham Portelli and Addison Bonnici, the latter joining up with his brother, Jean Paul.
Both teams were very wary of each other, and points were scarce, as Sliema took an early lead. Siggiewi grafted out an advantage, and till the end of the quarter it was Sliema chasing all the way, drawing level and falling behind once more. Both teams failed their free shots, as Michael Naudi slid home his hoop, for a tied first-session score.
In the second session both teams settled down quickly, and both scores were enhanced. Omar Said produced the goods for Sliema, with his points, including a trey. The Wanderers didn't enjoy their lead long, as an 8-0 run, with a glut of free throws, gave Siggiewi a 23-18 advantage. Then it was Sliema's turn, and an 11-2 run, and another Said trey, turned the score around. Siggiewi came near, but an Adrian Micallef hoop at the end saw Sliema 31-28 in front at the interval.
After the break it was Siggiewi who had the stronger opening. A 10-3 run, with David Camilleri to the fore, saw them opening up a lead, but Sliema recovered with a 7-0 run. Siggiewi's reply brought them to just a point down, and the Wanderers had Omar Said to increase again. A Duncan Cuschieri trey gave Sliema a 48-42 lead after three sessions.
In the final quarter Sliema were caught cold, and David Camilleri punished their mistakes, with some fast play. Siggiewi were in front but Sliema pressed further, and both teams were at it hammer and tongs. With four minutes to go it was 57-57. Sliema got an important break, as Kristin Baldacchino pushed his side in front. Siggiewi put in their final effort and, right at the end, with Sliema a point ahead, it was Jean Paul Bonnici, from a steal, who sank a glorious trey, to send the whole Siggiewi clan in raptures. Michael Naudi nearly saved the game at the buzzer, but his effort came off the rim, and Siggiewi were home.
Sliema: 11 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, C. Calleja, 5 E. Bezzina, J. Galea, T. Riolo, 18 O. Said, 4 A. Micallef, 9 D. Cuschieri, 6 K. Baldacchino
Siggiewi: 7 A, Spiteri, M. Shoults, 19 D. Camilleri, J. Doughty, 4 A. Portelli, M. Barberi, 13 P. Shoults, 5 JP Bonnici, 15 A. Bonnici, 3 L. Camilleri, A. Huizer, E. Xuereb
Referees: B. Vassallo, S. Micallef
Men 1 Div. Group B
Depiro 54
BUPA Luxol 74
(16-21)(10-19)(11-13)(17-21)
Both sides had changed players, as Depiro paraded Alex Tabone and will also have Antoine Costa, after some inactive seasons, from Hamrun. Luxol included Alan Borg and Jide Jetson, from the disbanded Hamrun side, although they lost Silvio Cassar, back to his first love, Pembroke, now under the title of Sliema Wanderers.
Chris Sammut had a bright start for Luxol, as they went 6-2 ahead. Depiro recovered quickly, with David Agius
hoops, but Dirk Schembri made his presence felt under both boards, for Luxol, and an 11-2 run was only snapped at the end of the session, with a Roderick Vella trey, as the Violets kept their lead.
In the second session Dirk Schembri increased his side's lead, and a 10-0 run put some distance between the two teams. Emanuel Lupo's entry on court for Depiro produced the points, as they tried to get back in the game. Luxol had a good reply till the end of the session, and some stout defence and fast breaks enabled them to hold down a 40-26 advantage at the interval.
After the break Luxol found difficulty in penetrating the zone, as Depiro's fast play awarded them an 11-2 run, going to within five points of their opponents. The Violets had to strive hard to preserve their lead, till the Schembri brothers once more came to the fore, and Alan Borg then came up with a steal, for an 11-0 run, and Luxol could breathe easier again. After three sessions it was 53-37 for the Violets.
In the last session Marco Mercieca's insistence pushed Luxol even further ahead, and they could ease their minds, with minutes remaining. Roderick Vella's treys gave Depiro some faint hope, but Luxol exerted pressure again. and the gap was wide enough at the end.
Depiro: 22 R. Vella, 6 C. Cassar, M.Sammut, G. Muscat, A. Aquilina, 8 A. Tabone, I. Tanti, 12 E. Lupo, M. Mallia, 6 D. Agius
Bupa Luxol: 10 C. Sammut, 13 M. Mercieca, 4 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 6 A. Borg, 2 M. Portera, C. Pulis, 23 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 10 J. Jetson, 6 S. Schembri
Referees: B. Vassallo, E. Mangani