In an exciting match, Siggiewi finally had the better of a fighting Luxol side, who must feel desperately unlucky to finish on the losing side.

On the other hand Siggiewi, who trailed for most of the match, never gave up, and got their reward in the last session.

Alan Borg for Luxol, blotted a good performance, when he was sent off seconds from the end, along with Siggiewi coach Alex Farrugia. Siggiewi go alongside Sliema in top position, leaving Luxol three points behind.

Luxol had Edgar Caruana Montaldo still abroad, and were missing Alex Bianchi. Siggiewi had Addison Bonnici out with a long term injury, and also missing was Matthew Shoults.

It was Luxol who had the better start, with an Alan Borg trey, in an 8-3 opening run. Siggiewi reacted, and a Louis Camilleri trey in a 7-0 run, gave them a 10-8 lead. Peter Shoults also put in a trey for Siggiewi, but Luxol were making steals, and finished the quarter on a small basket advantage.

In the second session Siggiewi didn’t take long to go in front, and into a 24-20 lead, but they were wasting many free throws.

Luxol’s contribution from the free shot line helped them to a 10-4 run, started off with another Borg trey. Siggiewi couldn’t come to grips, making turnovers, and with Borg sinking his third trey, and Dirk Schembri finishing well, it was Luxol who were leading 40-33 at the interval.

After the break Siggiewi clawed back to a point down on two occasions, but Jide Jetson was on hand for Luxol, and a third trey by Borg restored the Violets’ previous advantage.

In the latter stages Siggiewi came back in the game, but Luxol held firm till the end of the quarter, with a single hoop lead, ona 50-48 score, after three sessions.

In the final quarter Siggiewi managed to overhaul Luxol, but their opponents tied the score at once. Siggiewi surged forward again, only to be pulled back with a Chris Sammut trey for Luxol.

Siggiewi eked out a four-point lead at the start of the last minute. Luxol pulled a hoop back. It was not enough, as Siggiewi grimly held out in the final seconds, when Alan Borg’s fifth foul was a disqualifying one, and Siggiewi’s coach, Alex Farrugia, was also ousted, after a second technical foul issued against him.

LUXOL: 7 C. Sammut, 2 M. Mercieca, 5 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 14 A. Borg, R. Dalli, 10 D. Schembri, 10 J. Jetson, 13 S. Schembri

SIGGIEWI: 13 A. Spiteri, 10 L. Camilleri, 7 D. Camilleri, J. Doughty, 9 A. Portelli, 4 JP Azzopardi, 13 P. Shoults, 5 JP Bonnici, 2 S. Sammut, 2 E. Xuereb

REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara, Stephen Micallef

Floriana 47

Depiro 71

(6-17)(13-15)(18-26)(10-13)

Depiro made sure of avoiding the last rung in the standings, as they beat Floriana, and made it three out of three wins against them this season.

A good first session paved the way, and they increased their lead in the other quarters, to break clear and ease their minds.

Floriana played better in the latter part of the match, but they were always chasing a fleet-footed team, and had to bow to superior forces.

Antoine Costa was still out injured for Depiro, missing his third game, but David Agius was back in the side, after missing the game against Luxol.

Depiro began by totting up their free throws, as Emanuel Lupo was dominant in the zone. His personal points helped Depiro to a long 14-2 run, as they then operated on fast breaks, and caught Floriana flatfooted.

Till the end of the quarter it was only Adrian Sultana who replied for the Greens, as Depiro already had a double figure lead.

In the second session Floriana came more into the picture. At first they crept nearer, at 13-21, but a Billy Zammit trey, and his further points, as he was left unattended, extended Depiro’s lead again. Floriana then replied to the last Depiro hoops, but they were still some way behind at the interval, on a 32-19 score.

After the break, Floriana were hard pressed again, as Emanuel Lupo and a David Agius trey extended their side’s lead. The Greens raised their hopes again, as they put in two treys in a row, by Don Ross and Gauci Grech.

Not to be outdone, Depiro promptly sank a couple of treys of their own, by Agius and Lupo. The play turned again, as Floriana made a 7-0 run, with a Garteh Gilson trey, but Depiro had a reply, with an 8-0 run, till the end of the quarter, and a last second Roderick Vella trey from a steal, for a safe 58-37 lead.

In the final quarter Depiro slackened their play, and Floriana took advantage to post a 10-2 run, with Don Ross and Noel Falzon hoops. It didn’t last long, as Depiro put in their top players, and an 11-0 run, with Malcolm Sammut finishing off some moves, ans another Vella trey, put paid to Floriana’s attempts to get closer. It ended as a handsome Depiro win.

FLORIANA: R. Spiteri, 5 N. Falzon, J. Paris, 9 A. Sultana, 6 B. Riolo, 2 K. Borg, 5 G. Gilson, 6 R. Mifsud, 3 G. Gauci Grech, 11 D. Ross

DEPIRO: 11 R. Vella, C. Cassar, 8 M. Sammut, G. Muscat, A. Aquilina, 7 A. Tabone, M. Mallia, 7 B. Zammit, 26 E. Lupo, I. Tanti, 12 D. Agius

REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Jean Paul Sammut, Anthony Micallef