Siggiewi started the first step in their defence of the league title won last season, also beating Luxol for the second time this season. Bupa remain with a win from three games. The opening session determined the match, as Siggiewi had a good lead, which they held on to, until the last period, when a solid run restored their advantage, and they could safely go on till the rest of the encounter. The game was marred with Nigel Sultana’s injury for the champions, feeling fearful every time that one of their players go down.

Siggiewi were without Marco Pisani, and the suspended Matthew Shoults. Luxol called up Chris Cardona again, as Andrew Cremona was still missing, but Petar Apcev recovered from his injury.

Apcev opened the scoring for Luxol, who then saw the champions putting in a good reaction, with a 13-0 run, and an Alan Borg triple, with Adrian Micallef hoops. Robert Azzopardi made free throws for Bupa, before Siggiewi had Marco Matijevic with a brace of hoops, out of three baskets. Apcev then sank a last second trey for Luxol. John Paul Bonnici netted another triple for Bupa but Siggiewi returned to take a useful 27-15 advantage, but they lost Sultana on injury. Luxol made an 8-0 run, and it was a close game once more. Micallef put in more points for the champions, but Bonnici sank his second Luxol triple. At the interval Siggiewi held a 33-28 advantage.

After the break the champions hit Bupa once more, and after beginning with a second Borg triple, they went on with an 11-2 run. It was Luxol’s turn to retaliate, and they continued till the end of the quarter, managing to put in a sound 12-2 run, as Apcev took his team in hand, and he made nearly all the points, including back to back triples. At the end of the third period Siggiewi’s lead had gone down to a tighter 46-42 score. The champions were pressed by their opponents, and after holding their lead for some time, it was Apcev and Antoine Costa with their treys, to overturn the score, at 52-51. Siggiewi replied through free shots, to open up another advantage, when they compiled a good 13-2 score. Luxol’s final free throws were not enough, and Siggiewi made sure of their first league win.

Siggiewi 9 P. Shoults, J. Doughty, 4 E. Xuereb, N. Sultana, 14 A. Borg, 23 A. Micallef, K. Borg, J. Jetson, 15 M. Matijevic

Luxol C. Cordina, 4 M. Mercieca, 6 R. Azzopardi, 2 A. Micallef Trigona, 27 P. Apcev, 6 A. Costa, 3 N. Vasovic, 2 T. Paris, E. Caruana Montaldo, 8 JP Bonnici, S. Mizzi

Referees G. Barbara, A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile