Siggiewi Derby     74

Tata Motors Loyola     69

(28-9)(17-19)(13-23)(16-18)

Siggiewi obtained their first seasonal win after their opening defeat by Athleta. This was at the expense of Loyola who were suffering their third straight loss.

A solid start augured well for the champions but Loyola slowly but surely dragged themselves back winning the last three sessions and for a while they looked as if they could obtain a result only to be foiled in the last seconds as Siggiewi made sure with their free throws.

Besides Lee Ross, still injured, Marco Matijevic also missed the game for the champions. Loyola played with their standard formation.

Siggiewi raced into a 9-0 lead when they began with an Alan Borg triple although he pulled a muscle later on and cried off for the rest of the encounter.

Loyola replied with a hoop but Siggiewi were in a hungry mood and they built up a solid 19-2 run as Eman Xuereb and Nigel Sultana the latter against his former team also produced treys.

Late in the period Shawn Pace also sank a trey as Loyola just edged their opponents in this session. Halftime score at 45-28 in favour of the champions.

After the break, Loyola continued to eat away at their deficit although they were still at a double figure adverse score. Jide Jetson’s hoops and, later on, Sultana helped the champions to a better advantage but Anton Axiaq popped up for Loyola with a couple of hoops.

Were it not for a three-point play by Peter Shoults Loyola would have drawn much closer. As it was after three periods the score was 58-51.

Late in the match, Loyola made their final effort and Siggiewi passed through some anxious moments with their opponents just a hoop in arrears. Siggiewi: 22 P. Shoults, A. Cutajar, 3 M. Shoults, J. Doughty, 7 E. Xuereb, 25 N. Sultana, 3 A. Borg, 8 A. Micallef, 6 J. Jetson

Loyola: 12 S. Pace, 2 B. Zammit, 10 D. Camilleri, 2 C. Cassar, S. Borg, M. Cilia, 5 S. Vella, 9 A. Axiaq, 9 J. Mihailovic, 13 J. Anastasi, J. Ransley, 7 A. Tabone

Referees:  G. Barbara, A. Mangani, A. Carbonaro 

A-Z Elec. Athleta     68

Depiro Mtarfa     65

(26-15)(19-17)(10-18)(13-15)

It was Athleta with their third win in three matches but Depiro shared the honours with a wholehearted performance which had the winners in difficulties in the latter part of the encounter.

Athleta looked capable of containing their younger opponents but after the break it was a real test for Athleta to ward off their lively opponents. Depiro even managed to draw level twice in the final stages but Athleta forged ahead one final time to take the spoils but only after a scary last seconds of play.

Athleta didn’t give Depiro any time to settle down at the start and began with an 11-2 run.

Depiro had Emanuel Lupo with two hoops in a row and they followed up with triples by Andrew Aquilina and David Bugeja to go closer.

Depiro’s early attempts in the second session found a stumbling block in Michael Naudi. Athleta put in a 12-3 run with two Naudi triples and a trey reply from Aquilina who later on also netted a third trey.

Not to be outdone Naudi also sank his third triple and Athleta managed to keep their adversaries at a distance till the interval when they enjoyed a 45-32 favourable score.

After the break, Athleta were not so prolific in their scoring although Said netted an early trey, but that was in an adverse 3-9 run which ended with a Roderick Vella triple for Depiro.

Midway through the period, Athleta were in a double figure lead once more only for Depiro to press in the latter stages of the session and they went on to a 50-55 score with a quarter to go.

Isaac Tanti took Depiro to just a point behind with his two hoops. Athleta stretched their lead again only for Bugeja to tie the score at 59-59. Athleta forged forward once more but Depiro persisted and drew level yet again.

The next time that Athleta took a lead it proved just enough as Depiro couldn’t make it back this time, despite their final frantic efforts.

Athleta: 16 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, 20 D. Schembri, 9 O. Said, C. Calleja, 13 A. Bonnici, 5 K. Baldacchino, 5 S. Schembri

Depiro: 8 R. Vella, JP Schembri, 20 D. Bugeja, C. Farrugia, 13 A. Aquilina, J. Camilleri, 4 J. Gatt, B. Borg, 8 E. Lupo, M. Mallia, 12  I. Tanti, G. Mercieca

Referees: G. Barbara, S. Micallef, C. Terribile