Floriana 72

Mellieha SVS Ref. 88

(21-19)(14-20)(19-18)(18-31)

Once again Floriana had to face a result which didn't do justice to their performance. Mellieha went into the semis, on a seemingly comfortable score, but in reality the Greens were tenacious opponents, and held a lead at the start of the third quarter.

They were also close, midway through the last session. The scoring prowess of Chris Sammut for Mellieha and Sassoun Saakian for Floriana came to the fore, in a high scoring encounter.

Floriana included Karl Azzopardi, who was away from the game for some seasons, but Adrian Sultana and Noel Falzon were missing. Mellieha were without Trevor Degiorgio and Joshua Aquilina.

It was Mellieha with the better start, and a 9-3 lead, and a trey by Chris Sammut, with a similar reply from Floriana's Saakian.

Floriana settled down, and a second Saakian trey, and Gareth Gilson hoops, helped them to a slim advantage. Mellieha drew level, with further treys by Chris Sammut, but Floriana ended the session on a basket lead.

In the second quarter the Greens, through Gilson's trey, extended their lead, to a 26-21 score, but Mellieha imposed their style of play, to take command, and Chris Sammut's points, with a fourth trey, in a sound 16-2 run, put them ahead.

Floriana replied with a 7-0 run, and a Karl Borg trey, but Sammut kept Mellieha in front till the interval, on a 39-35 lead.

After the break Floriana surprised their opponents with an opening 8-0 run, but their joy was shortlived. Julian Naudi took over for Mellieha, with his two treys, in a 12-0 run, helped by the Sammut brothers. The Greens picked themselves up again, and till the end of the quarter they crawled back, and it was a Milan Pajic trey right at the end, which brought them just 54-57 in arrears.

In the final session Floriana were only a point behind, when the Sammut brothers again conspired, in a 12-2 run, and a Chris Sammut trey, to pull Mellieha clear, at 70-59.

Saakian put in a couple of treys for Floriana, to keep them in the hunt, but a sixth trey for Sammut deflated the Greens.

Mellieha coasted home, on a double figure lead, as they finished the game on a 7-2 run, and a final Michael Pisani trey.

Floriana: K. Azzopardi, 2 B. Riolo, 7 J. Tanti, 7 M. Pajic, 3 Robert Micallef Trigona, 11 G. Gilson, 33 S. Saakian, 9 K. Borg

Mellieha: 37 C. Sammut, 18 J. Naudi, 16 S. Sammut, 2 S. Aquilina, 7 E. Xuereb, J.Muscat, B. Aquilina, 6 M. Pisani, M. Cauchi, 2 J. Jetson, R. Loporto

Referees: Gordon Barbara, Alfred Carbonaro

* * *

Siggiewi Smina 63

BUPA Luxol 70

(19-22)(20-8)(8-17)(16-23)

In their last encounter both sides had three players suspended, for various irregularities, and they met each other again, in their subsequent match.

BUPA had to dig deep into their diminished resources, to stay alive in this competition, as Siggiewi, with a more precarious team sheet, nearly pulled it off. Fouls were of the utmost importance, and Siggiewi had to pay a bitter price at the end, ending the match with inexperienced bench players.

The match didn't take long to get into stride, with determined play from both sides. Siggiewi went into a 7-2 lead, but Matijevic was on hand for the Violets, and a 9-0 run, ending with his trey, saw BUPA in front. Siggiewi tied the score, but BUPA were back, through Dirk Schembri, including a trey. Siggiewi levelled once more, but it was BUPA ahead, after the first session.

Siggiewi made a bright start in the second quarter, with a 7-0 run, and points by Louis Camilleri. BUPA recovered, through Matijevic, as they went to 26-28 behind. Siggiewi came roaring back, and a long 11-1 run upset Bupa, who snapped the break with a Reuben Dalli trey.

At the interval Siggiewi were on a 39-30 advantage, but their fouls, and a short bench, were a worrying factor.

After the break Matijevic rallied BUPA back, with five personal points. Siggiewi recovered slowly. as they extended their lead once more. Matijevic, foul hit, sank a trey, and started off a 10-1 run, ending with another Dalli trey. Abraham Portelli had an instant reply, with his trey, as Siggiewi tied the score. After three sessions it was 47-47, but Siggiewi were in dire straits, on personal fouls.

In the final quarter Portelli was fouled out for Siggiewi, but Billy Zammit sank a trey. BUPA piled on the pressure, as Siggiewi's Louis Camilleri retired, injured. A strong 14-2 run, with treys by Matthew Bonnici, and a third Dalli effort, gave BUPA a useful advantage. Siggiewi were not done yet, and came back, to 58-61 behind. Dalli had lost none of his capabilities, and sank his fourth trey, and BUPA completed a 7-2 run. JP Bonnici's trey came too late for Siggiewi, and the last seconds trickled out for them. It was BUPA's fourth seasonal victory over Siggiewi this season, with the latter still seeking a win to assuage their pride.

Siggiewi: 16 L. Camilleri, 10 A. Portelli, 1 I. Mercieca, 5 B. Zammit, 11 JP Bonnici, 18 A. Bonnici, 2 JP Antoncic, L. Grech

BUPA Luxol: 14 R Dalli, 10 M. Mercieca, A. Micallef Trigona, S. Mizzi, S. Pulis, 2 A. Bianchi, 3 M. Bonnici, T. Paris, 16 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 25 M. Matijevic

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Jean Paul Sammut