Siggiewi Derby 61

A to Z Electronics Athleta 61

(agg. 142-138)

(11-16)(16-19)(20-6)(14-20)

It went right down to the wire and it was the points difference in the first match that decided the issue.

It was also the first time in a final that a drawn game was recorded which can only happen in a two match final.

The first part of the match saw Athleta dictating matters and nullifying their previous match deficit also taking the positive difference their way.

After the break there was a turn of events with the champions obtaining a better aggregate advantage.

The final moments had Siggiewi defending grimly to hold on to their precious lead which had them in back to back final victories and their third Cup success.

It was also the first time that Athleta had lost in a Louis Borg Cup final having won all of their previous six appearances.

Both teams had their first final players in their team sheets. A novelty was that the game score of the first match was on the scoreboard with all the players’ personal scores and the second final scores were all added on for a full aggregate score.

The game was hectic straight from the start. Athleta were in an early deficit with Siggiewi’s triples by Eman Xuereb and twice from Lee Ross. Addison Bonnici and Dirk Schembri poinst turned the score in favour of Athleta.

In the second period Athleta still kept their advantage with points from Steve Schembri and an Etienne Bezzina triple.

Siggiewi had Marco Matijevic more into the action but even two late triples did not keep Athleta from increasing their lead and going in on a 35-27 favourable score at the interval.

The play after the break took a different route. This time Siggiewi made up two runs at 9-0 and a better 11-0 and along with Matijevic there was Peter Shoults putting in his share.

For Athleta Michael Naudi and Dirk Schembri hoops did not prevent the champions from opening a double figure aggretate lead.

In the final quarter it was Athleta with the early treys two by Omar Said and a second from Bezzina.

Athleta went bang into the fray and Siggiewi had to put out all the stops to hold on to their paltry advantage as Athleta were just a basket behind.

Two very late Shoults free throws took the heart out of Athleta’s final attempts and Siggiewi grabbed a levelling score which had their slight first game advantage intact as they kept hold of the honour won last season.

After the match the MBA president emeritus, Louis Borg, presented both sides with their final medals and also presented the Siggiewi captain Eman Xuereb with their winning trophy.

Siggiewi: 13 P. Shoults, L. Camilleri, J. Doughty, 5 E. Xuereb, N. Sultana, A. Borg, 2 A. Micallef, 12 L. Ross, 3 K. Borg, 9 J. Jetson, 17 M. Matijevic

Athleta: 5 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, C. Galea, 6 E. Bezzina, 10 D. Schembri, 10 O. Said, 12 A. Bonnici, 4 K. Baldacchino, 14 S. Schembri

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, C. Terribile