In a match seemingly devoid of interest, as the two sides had already qualified to the play-off final, it resulted in a close encounter, which was decided in overtime.
Young Gianluca Cuschieri coolly sank his second trey of the amtch, and tied the score for St. James, seconds from the end, for extra time.
Both sides still made use of bench players, even in the last important moments of the normal time.
St. James finished at the top of the final standings, with Qormi and Suns on equal points, but a decisive Qormi victory, in their direct encounter with Suns, a few days ago, gave Qormi the other final place.
Wayne Grixti, was missing for Qormi, in his second game suspension, aside from Vince Spiteri. St. James had Nigel Sultana and Clint Grixti just spectators on the bench.
In the opening session it was Qormi with the first hoop, but St. james with the better start, even though it was followed with a Simon Cauchi trey. The Saints amassed a 12-5 lead, before Qormi could string a good patch together, and continue till the end of the quarter, with a 7-2 run, going to within a basket of their adversaries.
In the second session Qormi overturned the score, but a quick reply for St. James, and personal points by Shawn Pace, ending with a trey, started off a long 10-1 run, with the Saints going clear. at 24-17. Qormi rallied towards the end of the session, to go closer, but it was St. James still in the lead at the interval, on a 26-22 score.
After the break Qormi fell further behind once more, on a repetition of the opening session. An 11-4 St. James run gave them a useful 37-26 lead, but when Qormi pressed they found spaces in the Saints’ rearguard, and an 8-1 closing run, with a Roberto Formosa trey, put Qormi on their original deficit, this time on a 34-38 score, after three sessions.
In the final quarter Qormi had the better start, and Joshua Anastasi’s points put them on a single basket lead. St. James levelled, but Qormi’s Formosa made his second trey, and Keith Scicluna also put in his trey for a better advantage.
Cuschieri replied with a similar trey for the Saints, as they progressed to just a point down. Qormi increased their lead, but Cuschieri saved the game with a clean trey at the end, to put the match into overtime.
St. James were galvanised enough, as they went in front, and stayed there, especially after Shawn Pace’s personal points. Qormi did not have a good enough reply, and Graham Coleiro crowned a good performance by closing down the game with his free throws.
Qormi: 16 Joshua Anastasi, 13 Roberto Formosa, 11 Keith Scicluna
St. James: 20 Graham Coleiro, 12 Shawn Pace, 10 Gianluca Cuschieri
Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Jean Paul Sammut
Final standings
24 St. James Hospital; 21 Qormi Kia; 21 Bell Med SN Suns