These two sides provided the first overtime, a double one at that, in the top division. Both teams battled out a stalemate in normal time, though Qormi left it late, to tie the score.

The first extra period was short on points, and left the issue wide open, for a second overtime. Floriana finally managed to forge ahead and keep in front, to decide the game in their favour.

The game had an explosive start, with a brace of treys by Floriana, followed by another trey by Qormi. The Greens still kept their lead till the end of the session.

In the second quarter, it was close with Josef Paris put ting Floriana ahead just before the interval buzzer. Score at 28-27.

After the break Roberto Formosa’s trey turned the score around, and Qormi were now leading with a 43-40 score.

In the fourth quarter the Greens were close to victorybut Qormi managed to draw level in the last two seconds through Antoine Grech to force the two overtime sessions.

Finally Glenn Gauci Grech’s trey solved the issue, although Floriana added more points till the end of the match, which signalled the Greens’s first win of the season.

QORMI: 4 W. Grixti, 27 A. Grech, 1 K. Scicluna, 3 N. Xuereb, a. Camilleri, 2 S. Farrugia, 11 R. Formosa, 2 J. Dalli, R. Baldacchino, C. Bugeja, 13 S. Cauchi, 9 A. Baldacchino

FLORIANA: R. Spiteri, 11 N. Falzon, 4 J. Paris, 1 B. Portelli, 3 B. Riolo, 11 G. Gilson, 11 R. Mifsud, 17 G. gauci Grech, 19 D. Ross

REFEREES: Gordon Barbara, Stephen Micallef, Alfred Carbonaro

Siggiewi Smina 62

Depiro 50

(14-8)(17-8)(17-17)(14-17)

Siggiewi had to dig deep at times, in their second league win, as Depiro refused to let their more fancied opponents dominate the match.

As expected there was a fast opening at both ends. David Camilleri put in a hoop for Siggiewi after just a handful of seconds from the start, but Depiro replied soon afterwards. At the end of the session Siggiewi were still in front.

In the second session, with Siggiewi’s bench players on court, Depiro tried to make up the leeway. Siggiewi were calm enough to make good use of Albert Spiteri, as he helped in a 13-0 run, midway through the quarter.

At the interval Siggiewi still enjoyed a 31-16 score.

After the break, with Emanuel Lupo prominent in a 9-2 run, Depiro went 27-37 behind. but Siggiewi recovered, and at the end of the session, still kept their original half time lead, at 48-33.

In the final quarter Depiro put in a strong challenge. A 9-2 opening run, including a Roderick Vella trey, brought them less than double figures behind. Louis Camilleri eased Siggiewi’s doubts with a couple of hoops. Depiro were still insistent, and stayed close, but Siggiewi had enough experience to keep their opponents at a distance, and play out time till the end of the match.

SIGGIEWI: 9 A. Spiteri, 2 L. Camilleri, 21 D. Camilleri, J. Doughty, M. Pajic, 2 M. Barberi, 6 P. Shoults, 4 JP Bonnici, 14 A. Bonnici, A. Huizer, 4 E. Xuereb

DEPIRO: 10 R. Vella, 1 C. Cassar, M. Sammut, 3 G. Muscat, A. Aquilina, 3 A. Tabone, 2 M. Mallia, 4 I. Tanti, 20 E. Lupo, 3 A. Costa, 4 D. Agius

REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro