St. James booked a place in the final three games, as they performed a great escape act, coming from way behind, in the final session, to force overtime, and eventually run out winners.

It looked all over, bar the shouting, as Valletta looked confident on a large advantage, but young Shawn Pace pulled his side back, from the scruff of the neck, and his team did the rest. Valletta now have to battle it out with Qormi for the remaining place.

Ivan Riolo returned from injury, to the Valletta side.

The first session didn’t really start off. The two teams found great difficulty in obtaining points, and it was down to the last two minutes, when St. James sank two treys in a row, by Shawn Pace and Joe Vella.

Valletta had Don Ross, with his free throws, to compensate on their part, as the score remained a low one.

In the second quarter St. James held on to their lead, despite a Mark Pace trey for the Citizens, but then Valletta got it right, and Gauci Grech started them off with his personal points.

A long 13-2 run, with a Riolo trey, pushed Valletta in front. St. James finally had a reply, but Valletta’s good ending to the session gave them a 25-17 half time lead.

After the break the Saints were hit harderm, as treys by Ivan Riolo, his second, and Gauci Grech, put the Citizens on a double figure lead. St. James retaliated with a 7-2 run, as Graham Coleiro pushed his side to a 26-33 deficit.

Valletta were quick to restore their advantage, with an 8-2 run, and after three sessions they had built up a 41-29 score.

In the final quarter Valletta were boosted by a second Gauci Grech trey, but Shawn Pace kept the Saints in the hunt, with his personal 7-0 run, including a trey. St. James went further, to within striking distance, and Clint Grixti saved the match, on a 46-46 tie.

In overtime both teams were jittery. Valletta twice replied to their opponents’ points, as Coleiro twice gave St. James the lead. It was left to Jonathan Ransley to deliver the winning hoop, as the Saints celebrated their entry into the final three matches, and recorded their third win in five games against Valletta.

St. James: 13 Nigel Sultana, 10 Shawn Pace

Valletta: 16 Don Ross, 14 Glenn Gauci Grech

Referees: Jean Paul Sammut, Anthony Micallef