Champions start

season with a defeat

A to Z Elec Athleta 65

Siggiewi Derby 54

(15-10)(21-12)(21-16)(8-16)

The champions found the going tough right from the start. They had to meet their main rivals from the opening match, and Athleta were the better prepared outfit as they swept into the lead soon after the beginning of the match and never relinquished their advantage.

In truth they continued to steer away from their adversaries until Siggiewi had a bright patch at the start of the final session but it was to no avail as Athleta had a good grip on the game.

Athleta were a changed side from last season. Missing were Silvio Cassar Cameron Doughty and Julian Naudi. The new entries were the Schembri brothers Steve and Dirk from Luxol and Kristin Baldacchino went back to his first love.

Siggiewi paraded their new players Alan Borg from Luxol and Nigel Sultana ex-Loyola and young Adam Cutajar from Qormi. Matthew Shoults was upgraded from the second string. Missing were Lee Ross still injured and Louis Camilleri, abroad on studies. Eman Xuereb was entrusted as the new captain.

Athleta made the start they hoped for going on to a 9-0 advantage mainly through Addison Bonnici. The champions finally got going and put in a 6-0 patch with an Adrian Micallef triple.

The two sides then netted a brace of hoops each as Athleta held on to their lead till the end of the period. Siggiewi were still finding it heavy going in the second session as Athleta began to open up their advantage once more. They went on to a 27-14 lead despite Micallef’s efforts to bolster the champions as he also nailed a second trey. Athleta played confidently up to the interval when they had gone on to a solid 36-22 advantage.

There was no headway for Siggiewi after the break as the difference between the two teams was Steve Schembri. On three occasions he replied to the champions’ hoops with a triple. Athleta did not have any hills to climb to hold on to their lead and they went even better eking out a bigger advantage till the end of the period.

With a quarter to go they were fully 57-38 ahead.

The last session had a different tack as Siggiewi pressed hotly and for once they surprised their opponents. An 11-0 run initially threatened to cause an upset but Athleta held out and Omar Said turned in a triple.

Another Athleta basket dampened the champions’ surge and as time pressed Siggiewi could only acquire a more respectable score till the final buzzer.

Athleta: 6 M. Naudi J. Zammit 17 D. Schembri 2 E. Bezzina M. Giusti C. Galea 7 O. Said C. Calleja 14 A. Bonnici 4 K. Baldacchino 15 S. Schembri

Siggiewi: 15 P. Shoults M. Shoults A. Cutajar J. Doughty E. Xuereb 8 N. Sultana 7 A. Borg 15 A. Micallef 2 J. Jetson 7 M. Matijevic

Referees: JP Sammut, C. Terribile