Siggiewi Smina 57

Depiro 65

(14-11)(10-18)(15-10)(18-26)

For the second time this season Siggiewi were surprised by an organised Depiro outfit, who relied on two prongs and a post, to pull off an important win, which puts them in the final of a competition, after so many years in the doldrums, in the wake of their glory seasons. Siggiewi, feeling the effects of missing players, didn’t look as if they had any game plan, and relied on individual efforts.

This kept them buoyant for the major part of the match, but when the crunch came Arsovski's treys tilted the balance, and Siggiewi had no reply at the end.

Siggiewi recovered John Doughty, after his suspension, but Albert Spiteri was missing, along with David Camilleri. Peter Shoults is still into his second game suspension. Depiro were without David Agius, who became a father during the latter part of the week.

It was a fast game, as expected, as Siggiewi replied to Depiro’s opening hoop, but Arsovski’s free shots put Depiro into a 7-4 lead. They kept this advantage for some time, but Siggiewi co-ordinated well till the end of the session, and an 8-3 run, spoiled only by a Roderick Vella trey, gave Siggiewi a small first session lead.

In the second quarter Depiro wasted no time to draw level, before the game was shared for some minutes. With Siggiewi on a 20-16 lead up popped Vella, given space by his opponents, to sink in a trio of treys, ans Siggiewi had to chase. Louis Camilleri pulled them back, with a brace of hoops, but Vella replied with his free throws, to keep Depiro in front, at the interval, on a 29-24 score.

After the break Arsovski kept Depiro’s nose in front, in a low score start to the session. Siggiewi were pressing hard, and their free shots turned the score around, at 34-33. Jeffrey Gatt’s points gave Depiro back the lead, but free shots at both ends left the two sides locked at 39-39, with a session to go.

Andrew Aquilina put in a trey for Depiro, but Siggiewi overcame the moment, and produced a gritty 10-0 run, with points by Addison Bonnici and Louis Camilleri, and ending with a Billy Zammit trey, for a 51-45 advantage. Depiro bounced back, and Arsovski was the man of the moment, with a personal 12-1 run, and three treys. Siggiewi tried to react, but were hit again by a fourth Arsovski trey. There was little time left, and Depiro made sure of the result, with possession play, to progress to the final.

Siggiewi: 17 L. Camilleri, 1 J. Doughty, 12 A. Portelli, 7 I. Mercieca, 3 B. Zammit, 5 JP Bonnici, 12 A. Bonnici, JP Antoncic, L. Grech

Depiro: 25 R. Vella, D. Debono, I. Tanti, G. Muscat, 3 A. Aquilina, A. Tabone, 10 J. Gatt, 27 M. Arsovski, E. Lupo, A. Costa, M. Mallia, M. Sammut

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara, Jean Paul Sammut