Sliema regained the trophy they had lost to the same Luxol last season. This is the fifth time that the side has won this honour. T

hey have been ever present since 1998, with the exception of the year 2000, but they have been on the losing side for the last two years. It was only in the last quarter that Sliema could make sure of the result, when their defence could finally master Luxol's attacking formation. Omar Said had a high old time with his treys, and he offset Chris Sammut and Steve Schembri of Luxol, and their forays. The Violets had their moments, but they were found lacking at the end, as Sliema could hold out against Luxol's desperate efforts to save the game.

Luxol had Alan Borg starting a long suspension, practically leaving him out for the rest of the season. Both teams opened up with their treys, as Said sank three of his own for Sliema, and Robert Azzopardi replied for Luxol.

It was Sliema who had a good 19-10 lead, but Luxol rallied well till the end of the session, and a 7-2 run brought them to two hoops down at the end of the quarter.

In the second session Luxol kept up their pressure, and another Azzopardi trey started them off. It was then Chris Sammut's trey for the Violets, as they went in front, but the lead changed hands frequently.

Both teams found spaces in their opponents' rearguard, and as the interval loomed near it was Luxol's free shots that put them in the lead, on a 39-37 score, as both teams stayed close to each other.

After the break, despite a Duncan Cuschieri trey for Sliema, it was Luxol who forged further in front, on a 49-42 score. Sliema came back with Said's tries, but Luxol were still ahead, only to be reached at the end of the session, for a 52-52 tie, with the final quarter to decide the outcome.

Sliema gained what seemed to be a decisive break, with a 10-0 run, and another Said trey, but Luxol had fight left in them, and a Sammut trey made it just a one basket match, at 59-61.

Two Adrian Micallef hoops began a Sliema period of command, which was enough for them, as Luxol started to find it hard to penetrate Sliema's defence. At the end, when the Violets tried to stop the clock, the free throws were enough for Sliema to deny their opponents and hold on to their second honour of the season, after the Super Cup, also won against Luxol.

After the match the BOV representative, Mr. Charles Borg, presented the honours, as Sliema made merry with their fourth win over Luxol, this season, in five matches.

SLIEMA: 14 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, C. Calleja, 6 E. Bezzina, J. Galea, A. Southward, 22 O. said, 11 A. Micallef, 3 D. Cuschieri, 5 K. Baldacchino, 5 S. Cassar, 3 J. Gatt

LUXOL: 18 C. Sammut, M. Mercieca, 7 R. Micallef, M. Micallef, 2 A. Bianchi, M. Portera, R. Dalli, 13 D. Schembri, E. caruana Montaldo, 3 J. Jetson, 18 S. Schembri

REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani