This defeat puts Siggiewi out of the reckoning for a place in the final, but what a match they put up. Bupa had to pull out all the stops against a team who knew it was their last chance, and really gave it a go.
If Siggiewi put up this performance in all of their matches this season, then it would have been a different matter. Bupa seemed to have the game in hand in the third quarter, but they fell behind three times, before they made the issue safe in the last stages of the game, with some cool play, to defy the frantic Siggiewi attacks thrown at them in the end.
Matijevic opened strongly for Bupa, as they went into the first lead. Then it was a7-2 run, and a Steve Schembri trey, for a 14-6 advantage. Siggiewi replied with points by Addison Bonnici and Abraham Portelli, but Dirk Schembri came up with personal points for Bupa, as they opened up their lead once more. Portelli grabbed a late hoop for Siggiewi, as the opening session ended in Bupa's favour.
In the second quarter Siggiewi crept nearer, but Bupa relied on treys, a second by Schembri and Robert Azzopardi. Not to be outdone David Camilleri came on court for Siggiewi, and his personal points, including a couple of treys, made it a closer match.
Azzopardi sank his second trey for Bupa, and in the last seconds it was Dirk Schembri with anothe rtrey, as Bupa went 41-33 in front at the interval.
After the break it was Bupa who sought to consolidate their advantage, through Matijevic, for a 47-36 lead. Siggiewi gritted their teeth, and produced a strong 12-0 run, with treys by David Camilleri and Peter Shoults, for a first time lead.
They were also ahead one more time, but on each occasion there was Dirk Schembri to pull Bupa back in front each time. After three sessions it was aclose 53-52 score to Bupa.
In the final quarter Siggiewi twice went in the lead, the second time with a couple of Shoults hoops. Bupa came forward once more, and an 8-0 run, with a third Steve Schembri trey, put them 63-59 ahead.
Siggiewi were fighting for every ball, and they went to within a point, but Bupa struck back, and their lead was enough to ensure them their win, as Siggiewi just failed to pull it off.
Siggiewi: 4 L. Camilleri, 12 D. Camilleri, J. Doughty, 13 A. Portelli, I. Mercieca, 17 P. Shoults, 2 JP Bonnici, 18 A. Bonnici, JP Antoncic, B. Zammit
Bupa: R. Dalli, M. Mercieca, 8 R. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, 4 A. Borg, A. Bianchi, M. Bonnici, T. Paris, 17 D. Schembri, E. Caruana Montaldo, 29 M. Matijevic, 15 S. Schembri
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Emanuel Mangani, Stephen Micallef
Peugeot Women's League - Plate Pool
Sliema Wanderers 45
St. James Hospital 51
(9-11)(11-14)(9-15)(16-11)
St James produced a good performance, to make it two wins out of three matches against Sliema. More important, this win pushes the Saints on equal points with Sliema, and a direct encounter in their favour. Sliema nearly pulled it off in the final quarter, with strong rally, after trailing badly for most of the match. At the end St, james put in a couple of treys, to claim a match which was rightly theirs, on the day.
Both teams took some time to settle down, and although it was Sliema with an early 5-1 lead, and a Chanel Galea trey.
St James were the more enterprising side, and a long 10-2 run resulted in all their court players making points. Christine Martinelli closed down the session with a hoop for Sliema, who were still in arrears.
In the second quarter it was Leanne Sciberras who made nearly all the points for Sliema, but in-between St James had Denise Hollier to keep her side in front, and Ann Camilleri came off the bench, to sink points, including a trey.
Apart from Sciberras, it was Chanel Galea with a solitary free shot at the end of the session, with Sliema still trailing 20-25 at the interval.
After the break Sliema managed to creep nearer at first, but then Jean Doughty popped up with her points, including a trey, and St. James were 33-24 in the lead. Sliema's Azzopardi Duca made two hoops, but Hollier sank points from inside the zone, as the Saints enjoyed a double figur lead, at 40-29, with a session to go.
All of a sudden it was a different game altogether. Sliema started to swing the ball better, and with authority, and St James were being hit badly, as their lead crumbled away.
Leanne Sciberras piled in the points, as a strong 16-2 run put the Wanderers ahead, after so long in arrears. They were then jolted by a Martha Abela trey, which tied the score, and a little later it was Sammy Jo Barbara with a nerve sapping trey, as St James went back in front.
Sliema were shocked, and had no reaction, and the Saints comp[leted a 9-0 run to end the game, and go to the top of the standings.
Sliema: 22 Leanne Sciberras
St James: 17 Denise Hollier, 9 Sammy Jo Barbara, 8 Jean Doughty
Referees: Clive Terribile, Jennifer Mangani