Siggiewi made a big step towards the semis with this second victory in three games leaving Depiro to battle it out with the other bottom teams.

The second session was a disastrous one for Depiro who fell rapidly behind and there was too much of a leeway to make up.

Siggiewi kept a tight hold on the match and their winning margin was assured well before the end of the encounter. Mention should be made of Alan Borg’s deft handling and distribution of the ball for the champions.

Depiro were missing three of their youngsters and Siggiewi had Marco Pisani in their list for the first time and there was also the return of Karl Borg to bolster up the side. 

The opening session did not have so much accurate shooting and both sides took time to net their first points.

Siggiewi had Marco Matijevic with the first inroads and midway through the quarter made up a 7-0 run ernding with an Alan Borg triple. On the other side Depiro relied solely on Roderick Vella as he put in all his side’s contributions including a trey when they were a hoop away from their opponents.

Siggiewi improved considerably in the second period. They held Depiro in a vice for some time and totalled a 19-3 run with two triples by Adrian Micallef. David Bugeja also netted a trey for Depiro.

Siggiewi broke clear but they couldn’t improve on their score till the interval although Depiro could only share the points. At the halfway stage it was 35-18 for the champions.

Depiro were expected to come out tussling and cut down on their deficit but their early hoops met with a couple of Siggiewi triples from Nigel Sultana and Peter Shoults.

The champions’ lead did not vary too much even when Depiro managed a 7-2 run late in the session as Siggiewi put in the period’s last points for a 52-33 advantage.

At the start of the final session Depiro tried for an early break with free throws and a second Vella triple. They then met with resistance from the champions who stopped them through Micallef and Shoults.

Another triple for Depiro was obtained by JP Schembri but time was beginning to wind down and Siggiewi had no undue worries as to the outcome with the handsome lead that they enjoyed. Vella sank the game’s last two treys for a solid personal score but it was the champions who took the spoils.

Depiro: 27 R. Vella, 3 JP SChembri, 5 D. Bugeja, 5 A. Aquilina, 3 J. Gatt, 2 E. Lupo, M. Mallia, 9  I. Tanti, G. Mercieca

Siggiewi:  9 P. Shoults, M. Pisani, M. Shoults, J. Doughty, 4 E. Xuereb, 9 N. Sultana, 11 A. Borg, 16 A. Micallef, K. Borg,  J. Jetson, 15 M. Matijevic

Referees:  JP Sammut, A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile

Standings

A to Z Electronics lead the standings on eight points. They are followed by Siggiewi Derby on five, Depiro Mtarfa and Bupa Luxol four each and Tata Motors Loyola on three. The leaders are the only team to have played four matches, one more than all the others.