Bell Med SN Suns 54

St. James Hospital 73

(12-18)(12-14)(12-23)(18-18)

St. James kept chasing Mellieha, although in a better position, with a game in hand. They shook off Suns' challenge, putting in a steady performance, and Suns had to bow their heads to a superior team.

Suns could have overhauled Starlites, in third position, but St. James were in no mood to grant any favours.

Suns sank an early trey, by Trevor Grech, after Nigel Sultana's free shots for the Saints. Suns were still ahead, at 6-4, when St. James surged forward, and an 8-2 run, ending with a Billy Zammit trey, turned the score around.

Suns replied through free throws, but they were still in arrears, as the Saints finished the session on a good note, when Gianluca Cuschieri sank a trey, to help his side to a better advantage.

In the second period St. James held on to their lead, and improved on it. Though Trevor Grech sank a second trey for Suns, it was the Saints on an 8-3 run, acquiring a double figure advantage.

The Suns cut down on their deficit, creeping nearer till the interval, only to suffer a late Clint Cassar hoop, seconds from the end. St. James went in at the break, on a 32-24 score.

After the interval points were more plentiful. St. James had Clint Cassar with a trey, and helping in an 8-2 opening. Suns replied through Grech, but the Saints' treys kept going in, a second by Clint Cassar and another by Shawn Pace.

Trevor Grech also sank a fourth trey for Suns, but they had fallen behind, as Cuschieri had put in some late points, and his side were on a solid 55-36 advantage.

In the last session play was shared, although in two phases. St. James began by going further ahead, with a 9-3 run and Jonathan Ransley points. Suns then came more into the picture, as Michael Barberi made a trey.

The Saints replied through Billy Zammit, but it was Suns with the better ending, and an 8-2 closing run, with more treys by Grech and Mark Schembri, but only for a better score, as St. James were already sure of their win well before.

Suns: 19 Trevor Grech, 11 Bjorn Grima

St. James: 14 Clint Cassar, 14 Gianluca Cuschieri, 14 Billy Zammit, 13 Jonathan Ransley

Referees: Alfred Carbonaro, Clive Terribile