Tata Motors Loyola     61

Siggiewi Derby     69

(11-17)(9-12)(17-21)(24-19)

The champions were tested severely by a dour Loyola outfit who are still searching for their first league victory.

True Siggiewi had a depleted bench but Loyola only used a player more than their adversaries throughout the match and ended the game in a flurry of triples.

However this was still not enough with Siggiewi having established a strong advantage midway through the last session.

It was a pleasing match despite numerous failings at both ends which left the two sides close for most of the encounter.

Loyola had Gianluca Cuschieri back for his holidays from abroad. The champions were without Nigel Sultana and John Doughty besides other absentees which left them with a seven-man squad.

It was Loyola who made the better start with a David Camilleri triple and then they went on to a 9-5 lead.

Siggiewi began to find their rhythm and they put Loyola to the test with some pressure play. Siggiewi put in a good 12-0 run with triples from Adrian Micallef and Marko Matijevic.

Loyola pulled a basket back but they were still in arrears after their bright start. Loyola were still pulling points back in the second session before the champions began to retaliate with an 8-2 run and more treys by Micallef and Alan Borg.

Both sides then grabbed a hoop each till the end of the quarter. At the halfway stage of the match Siggiewi enjoyed a 29-20 advantage after their late surge in the period.

As they did in the previous session Loyola came out strongly after the break to reduce their deficit. There were triples at both ends with Peter Shoults for the champions and Billy Zammit for Loyola Siggiewi made another 8-0 run and Matijevic hoops.

Loyola replied with their 7-2 run but free throws helped Siggiewi to open up a better lead before the start of the last period when they held a 50-37 favourable score.

Loyola’s first two hoops of the session had a quick reply from the champions when they registered a 9-2 run mainly from Micallef as they established a winning margin despite the last minutes left on the clock.

Loyola sank their treys in a last ditch effort through Zammit Jovan Mihailovic and Camilleri but the Siggiewi players made enough points at the other end to ascertain their victory which leaves them just behind the league leaders.

Loyola: 9 S. Pace, 9 B. Zammit, 12 D. Camilleri, S. Borg, G. Cuschieri, M. Cilia, S. Vella, 2 A. Axiaq, 14 J. Mihailovic, 3 J. Anastasi, 2 J. Ransley, 10 A. Tabone

Siggiewi: 16 P. Shoults, E, Xuereb, 7 A. Borg, 25 A. Micallef, K. Borg, 2 J. Jetson, 19 M. Matijevic

Referees: JP Sammut, E. Mangani, C. Terribile

Standings

At the end of the first round, AtoZ Electronics Athleta lead the way on a maximum eight points. They are followed by Siggiewi Derby on seven, Bupa Luxol on six, Depiro Mtrafa on five and Tata Motors Loyola on four.