Mosta ended their negative spell at the beginning of the season, and after two defeats they managed to beat Loyola in a high-scoring match, handing them their second consecutive upset. This Mosta win brought no chamge to the standings, prior to the semis, which are to take place in the weekend, and, irrespective of the result in the other match, the two semis are now settled.

Loyola were the better side at the start, going into an 8-1 lead. Mosta recovered, and a couple of treys helped them to draw level, but it was Loyola who replied, to end the session on a better nore, and go in front once again.

In the second quarter Loyola grabbed the first hoop, but Ray Muscat found his form for Mosta, and a personal 10-0 run, ending with a trey, pushed his side ahead. Loyola settled down, and a 12-4 run which included treys by Jean Falzon, turned the score around again, and helped Loyola to a slight 34-32 advantage at the interval.

After the break Loyola opened strongly, and a 7-0 run, with a Trevor Grech trey, opened up their lead. Mosta began to combine better, and a 10-0 run, with Muscat again to the fore, with another trey, gave them a slight edge. Although Trevor Grech sank another trey for Loyola, it was Mosta who ended the session in front, though onlu just, on a 52-51 score, with a Sascha Saakian trey.

In the final quarter Mosta pushed their advantage further, after opening with a Matthew Bonnici trey. Loyola tried to reply but Mosta held on to their lead. Roberto Depasquale brought Loyola near again. and Joe Vella’s trey opened the match. Saakian’s free throws, before he was fouled out, were enough for Mosta to keep in front, and register their first seasonal win, despite Joe Vella’s late trey for Loyola.

Loyola: 16 Roberto Depasquale, 14 Jean Paul Falzon, 12 Joe Vassallo

Mosta: 26 Sascha Saakian, 25 Ray Muscat

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara

Mellieha SVS 61

SN Suns Bell-Med 44

(15-10)(19-8)(15-8)(12-18)

Mellieha kept striding on, notching up their third straight win, to top the group, leaving the other three teams to sort it out on basket difference, each winning a game out of three. Suns disappointed, especially after their good win over Mosta. True, they had Michel Curmi and Reno Camilleri on the injured list, but more was expected from Suns.

Suns had a good opening to the game, starting off with a Hubert Agius trey, and leading 5-2, but then the initiative passed into Mellieha’s hands, and once they took the lead they never renounced it till the end of the match.

Ian Terribile put in a personal eight points, with a couple of treys, for Mellieha, and Hubert Agius did likewise for Suns, at the end of the quarter, keeping up his good form from the distance. Mellieha enjoyed a 34-18 lead at the interval. After the break Robert Loporto added on to Mellieha’s lead, but Suns retaliated, and a Mark Schembri trey reduced the deficit. Mellieha were agian the better side, and till the end of the quarter they improved on their advantage again, progressing to a 49-26 score.

In the final session, after a fourth Hubert Agius trey, Mellieha shared the play with their opponenets, and Angelo Bantick was making the points for Suns, mainly from the free throw line. A Mark Camilleri trey for Mellieha preceded a good Suns ending to the match, including another Mark Schembri trey, but Mellieha were always comfortable winners, having acquired vistories over all the other opponents in the group.

The semi final set-up is now complete, with Mellieha meeting Loyola, and Suns facing Mosta in the two Sunday games.

Mellieha: 15 Robert Loporto, 12 Ian Terribile

SN Suns: 17 Hubert Agius, 14 Angelo Bantick

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Stephen Micallef