It was the third meeting this season between these two sides and Siggiewi always had the better of their adversaries.

Siggiewi made a stuttering start but once they went into gear it was a question of Loyola having to chase but never getting quite near enough to seriously trouble the champions.

Loyola had Gianluca Cuschieri back in the side back from his studies abroad but Shawn Pace stayed on the bench. Siggiewi were still without Adrian Micallef.

Billy Zammut sank a triple for Loyola to start the game. Siggiewi reacted to tie the score but Loyola recovered with a 10-0 run as David Camilleri netted a triple along with Jovan Mihailovic points.

Siggiewi stopped their opponents but Camilleri nailed another trey. The champions then pulled their socks up and proceeded to pump in a 16-0 run as Lee Ross and Alan Borg made their triples and Marco Matijevic completed the rest.

Loyola pulled a basket back but they were still behind. In the second period the champions opened up their advantage further but Anton Axiaq was on hand to pull his side back. Camilleri’s third triple had them nearer still. Borg netted his second trey for Siggiewi followed closely after by Eman Xuereb.

Peter Shoults’ points continued for an 8-0 run and the champions were on a 44-32 lead at the interval.

After the break the champions’ first points were rebutted but then they put in a personal 8-2 run by Matijevic.

Loyola had Joshua Anastasi to stop them from going further ahead but Shoults potted a trey for the champions. Although Loyola reacted there was Matijevic once more with another 8-0 personal run and the champions ended the session on a solid 69-50 advantage. In the final quarter the game was a more open one with replies at either end.

Camilleri and Mihailovic netted more triples for Loyola and Shoults put in a personal 8-3 run with a second trey. Loyola’s last points made the score a closer and high one.

Loyola: S. Pace, 7 B. zammit, 16 D. Camilleri, S. Borg, G. Cuschieri, M. Cilia, 3 S. Vella, 11 A. Axiaq, 25 J. Mihailovic, 10 J. Anastasi, J. Ransley, 5 A. Tabone

Siggiewi: 18 P. Shoults, K. Borg, J. Doughty, 4 E. Xuereb, 16 A. Borg, 13 L. Ross, J. Jetson, 38 M. Matijevic

Referees: E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile