Compleet went into sole second place in the standings, behind Bupa, and avenged their heavy first round defeat against Siggiewi. It was not a match for the faint-hearted, as both sides went solidly into this encounter. The third session determined the outcome of the match, as Siggiewi saw a small lead evaporate, and then they fell further behind, and their rallies did bring them near, but they took a lot of their energy, and Compleet could recuperate and run out winners.

Siggiewi introduced their Gozitan-American, Mark Debono, who was recently drafted into the national squad. Compleet had Tino Riolo missing, but recalled Matthew Zammit, who only appeared in the first matches last season, and he played a large part in their victory..

Michael Naudi started Compleet away, with his two hoops, but Siggiewi had JP Bonnici in a furious mood, and his continuous points put his side into a 13-4 lead. Compleet recovered, to share the game, and then their treys began to fall in, and Baldacchino potted two to Etienne Bezzina’s other. Siggiewi rallied to put in a couple of hoops, till the end of the session, as David Camilleri limped off the court.

In the second quarter, short on points, Compleet had Bezzina sinking his second trey, to reply to Siggiewi’s opening hoop. The latter opened up their lead once more, and Peter Shoults?trey gave them a 31-22 advanatge. Compleet had to come back laboriously, and Silvio Cassar’s points made the match a closer one. At the interval Siggiewi held on to a 31-28 lead, with Michael Naudi on the ebnch.

After the break Compleet took the match by storm, and with Matthew Zammit asserting his presence, his side made a long 13-1 run, to forge in front. Siggiewi recovered briefly, but Compleet had Omar Said sinking a trey, as they went 49-36 ahead. Compleet then had to suffer Siggiewi’s reaction, but they were still on a 53-43 lead after three sessions.

In the final quarter Siggiewi pressed their opponents, but points were hard to come by. Louis Camilleri pulled his side back, with his personal points, and a 7-0 run made the game a much closer one. Compleet recoverd, to post an 8-2 run, followed by Bezzina’s third trey, to regain their former lead. Siggiewi’s late rally, and treys by Shoults and Igor Stefanovic, gave them hope, but a missed lay up scuppered their chances, and Compleet closed down the match with Said’s two free shots.

Siggiewi: B. Zammit, 16 L. camilleri, D. Camilleri, J. Doughty, 8 A. Portelli, M. Debono, 14 P. Shoults, 13 JP Bonnici, 5 A. Bonnici, JP Antoncic, 5 I. Stefanovic

Compleet: 4 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, C. Calleja, 11 E. Bezzina, 2 J. Galea, 9 O, Said, 4 A Micallef, 15 M. Zammit, 9 K. Baldacchino, 14 S. Cassar, R. Mifsud

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro

Men’s 2 Div. League

St. James Hospital 59

Valletta Ballers 62

(8-22)(17-13)(18-13)(16-14)

Valletta confirmed their recent good spell, getting a prestigious win over a side who is widely quoted for league success. Valletta were never in arrears throughout the whole match, although St. James ran close, midway through the last session, when they drew level. The first session was instrumental for the Citizens, as their large lead was whittled down, but not enough for the Saints, and now Valletta will stake their claim for a final three place, and possible promotion.

St. James were without Steve Pace and Stefan Vella, and introduced newcomer, Clint Cassar, from Depiro. Valletta were missing Karl Cucciardi and Mark Pace.

The Citizena had a bright start, with an 8-2 lead, but St. James?free throws brought them just behind their adversaries. Valletta replied again, with a strong 14-0 run, with Nello Xuereb leading the charge, and a couple of treys from Don Ross. St. James put in a brace of free shots before the end of the session.

In the second quarter it was the Saints with an 8-2 run, but they were halted by a 7-0 Valletta run, and a Matthew Shoults trey. St. James recovered enough, and a Shawn Pace trey, in a closing 9-4 run, saw the Saints make up some leeway, though they were still 25-35 in arrears at the interval.

After the break St. James?efforts to get closer were thwarted by Shoults?two treys. St. James doggedly came back, with a 9-0 run, mostly by Joe Vella, including a trey. Till the end of the quarter the play was shared, as Valletta’s advantage went down to a 48-43 score.

In the final session the Citizens started well, with a fourth Shoults trey, but some time later he was fouled out, as St. James were compiling a 10-0 run, as Nello Xuereb retired injured, with Jonathan Ransley active in the zone, for a 53-53 tie. Valletta had a breather, with a 7-1 run, as Gauci Grech potted a trey. Joe Vella pulled the Saints back, with a second trey. Keith Sultana concluded a fast break for Valletta, and all St. James?last tries were unsuccessful, as Valletta held out.

St. James: 15 Joe Vella, 12 Jonathan Ransley

Valletta: 16 Nello Xuereb, 16 Matthew Shoults, 14 Don Ross

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro

Mosta 54

Qormi Kia 67

(12-18)(10-17)(14-20)(18-12)

Qormi kept their sole top position in the standings, with their third win from three sncounters. This was their second victory over Mosta this season, after their win in the Shield. Due to circumstances Qormi’s youngsters gave a good account of themselves, and used their time on court to their team’s advantage.

Mosta had wholesale absences in this match, with fully no less than six players missing. Qormi also had their mishaps, as three of their first five players were unavailable.

Adrian Baldacchino led Qormi to a 6-0 lead at thestart. Mosta had a reply, but some slack marking permitted Qorm,i to make up an 8-0 run, for a 16-4 lead. Mosta recovered, and till the end of the quarter they put in an 8-2 run, as Kevin Bonnici ghosted behind the defence, to pull his side closer.

In the second session Mosta went closer still, at 16-20, but Anton Axiaq grabbed hoops in the paint, for a double figure lead. Mosta were hit yet again, as personal Baldacchino points, in a 7-0 run, ending with a trey, pushed Mosta further back. At the interval Qormi, with young players on court, held a comfortable 35-22 advantage.

After the break Qormi were first off the blocks, to increase their lead, but Mosta’s Adrian Pace sank a trey. Qormi repeated the dose, with another trio of hoops, for strong 47-27 advantage. Mosta rallied back with a 7-2 run, as Joe Micallef put in a couple of lay ups. Qormi had the better ending to the quarter, to push forward once more. After three sessions they were 55-36 in front.

In the final period Mosta once more suffered a series of hoops. Their reply came from Joe Micallefand Karl Fabri, but in between Anton Axiaq replied for Qormi, and they had enough of a lead to help them coast through, and pull away from other teams in the standings.

Mosta: 14 Joe Micallef, 11 Karl Fabri, 10 Kevin Bonnici

Qormi: 16 Joshua Anastasi, 15 Adrian Baldacchino, 13 Anton Axiaq, 10 Roberto Formosa

Referees: Gordon Barbara, Alfred Carbonaro

Peugeot Women’s League

Hibs Medsea 51

Luxol 42

(14-15)(8-11)(12-14)(17-2)

Hibs just barely recovered from their Super Cup loss to Depiro last month. They posted their third consecutive league victory, and handed Luxol their first defeat in four matches. The Paolites trailed for most of the match, sometimes heavily, but pulled it off at the end, thanks to Kirsten Micallef’s prowess in her treys, and Doreen Micallef’s leadership qualities on court.

A quiet start to the match saw the champions reply to Luxol’s first points, and Doreen Micallef’s hoops put her side 8-4 in front. Luxol rallied, to overturn the score, but Francesca Bianco sank a trey for the Paolites. The end of the session was Luxol’s, and Psaila Savona’s late hoop put the Violets on a single point advantage.

After the break Luxol were still holding sway over their adversaries. A 9-0 run, with a second Psaila Savona trey, saw Hibs falling into a double figure deficit. Midway through the quarter the Violets were still 39-26 in ront, but the Paolites staged a revival, to pull back, till the end of the session, but Luxol held on to a 40-34 lead.

In the last quarter Luxol were pointless till midway through the period, but the champions could only reply with a paltry five points. A little later Doreen Micallef gave them a slim lead. Psaila Savona potted Luxol’s only hoop in this session, but ex-team mate, Kirsten Micallef popped up once more, to sink two treys in a row. Hibs added on a couple of hoops, for good measure, to finish up on the winning end, and leaving a disappointed Luxol to rue their their disastrous last session.

Hibs: 19 Doreen Micallef, 13 Kirsten Micallef

Luxol: 13 Francesca Psaila Savona, 10 Emma Moore

Referees: Jean Paul Sammut, Clive Terribile