Siggiewi Derby     77

Tata Motors Loyola     67

(21-16)(16-11)(18-15)(22-25)

Siggiewi went into their third seasonal final but had to endure fierce opposition from a fighting Loyola outfit who went on till the end.

The champions were never in arrears and also managed to open up good leads over their adversaries but Loyola still came back and some heavy pressing in the last quarter had Siggiewi somewhat in difficulties to keep their possession but all came right in the end for the champions.

Siggiewi recovered Adrian Micallef after his lengthy injury and Louis Camilleri made an appearance being in his holidays from abroad. Nigel Sultana was on the bench also recuperating from a long spell of injury but Jide Jetson was missing. Loyola sported a full formation.

The champions began with a four basket run but Loyola came right back to within a point. Siggiewi had a superior spell once more with a 10-2 run and more Eman Xuereb points including a triple.

Loyola stopped them with a brace of hoops but Xuereb did not take long to net his second triple. Loyola cut back but were still behind at the end of the session. Siggiewi went further ahead in the second session and although Loyola replied it was Siggiewi again with a 7-2 run and Lee ross points as their lead went into double figures.

Loyola pulled back twice more to further Siggiewi forays. At the interval the champions were into a 37-27 advantage.

After the break Loyola tried to recover quickly but they were denied when Peter Shoults made a succession of free throws for a better advantage. Loyola stuck to their task and Billy Zammit netted a triple as his side pulled back but free shots once more kept Loyola away. there were more hoops at either end till the end of the period and Siggiewi were still holding a good 55-42 advantage.

Loyola had Shawn pace netting a triple but the champions then put in a 10-2 run to open up a better lead. Loyola began to press early and as their triples went in with Jovan Mihailovic grabbing two and another from zammit Siggiewi were being hustled out of their game.

And Mihailovic sank a further triple. So did Lee Ross at the other end to stop Loyola’s advances and free throws at both ends didn’t alter the situation as siggiewi played out the last moments of the match.

Siggiewi: 17 P. Shoults, L. Camilleri, J. Doughty, 10 E. Xuereb, N. Sultana, 13 A. Borg, 6 A, Micallef, 12 L. Ross, 6 K. Borg, M. Matijevic

Loyola: 10 S. Pace, 13 B. Zammit, 10 D. Camilleri, S. Borg, G. Cuschieri, M. Cilia, S. Vella, 1 A. Axiaq, 25 J. Mihailovic, 2 J. Anastasi, J. Ransley, 6 A. Tabone

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