Siggiewi Derby 70

Bupa Luxol 64

(12-14)(17-18)(14-15)(27-17)

Ever since play continued for the senior sides after their long stoppage, Siggiewi have only tasted success.

Just days after securing the Louis Borg Cup the champions also beat off Luxol’s challenge in the league. It was a close call as the Violets put up a spirited performance but they lost players on fouls in the last session and Marco Matijevic put the finishing touches to Siggiewi’s recovery after trailing for quite some time.

Luxol now have to fight hard for the third spot in the championship pool.

Siggiewi had Louis Camilleri and Nigel Sultana missing from their Cup victory and Lee Ross was left on the bench after pulling up injured late in their last match. Luxol were with their recent standard formation.

The champions made a good start as they obtained a 7-0 run which ended with a Matijevic triple.

The Violets put in a better reply as Andrew Cremona started them off with personal points and they made up a 9-0 run.

Siggiewi reacted to regain their advantage but right on the stroke of time Petar Apcev nailed a Luxol triple to put them ahead once more.

In the second period Siggiewi tied the score but Luxol managed a 7-2 run. Later on it was Matijevic and Jide Jetson with more points for the champions but Luxol still managed to open up their advantage.

Then there were triples at either end with Nikola Vasovic for the Violets and Adrian Micallef for Siggiewi. At the halfway stage Luxol were on a 32-29 lead.

Soon after the start of play Siggiewi were on equal terms again with an Alan Borg triple. and matijevic also gave them a lead. Luxol bounced back with an 8-2 run and a second Vasovic trey.

They were stopped by a Karl Borg triple for the champions but the Violets still inched ahead some more and after three sessions of play they had a slightly better 47-43 advantage.

Siggiewi went nearer before triples went in on both sides Vasovic yet again for Luxol and Peter Shoults sank his for Siggiewi.

In the next minutes Matijevic took matters in his own hands and his points and a second Borg triple enabled Siggiewi to produce a solid 16-0 run which had Luxol losing players on fouls and falling some distance behind.

There were points still to come at either basket including a second Apcev trey but the champions were in control.

And they kept their opponents from going too near to cause discomfort.

Siggiewi: 10 P. Shoults, J. Doughty, E. Xuereb, 10 A. Borg, 11 A. Micallef, L. Ross, 6 K. Borg, 8 J. Jetson, 25 M. Matijevic

Luxol: C. Cordina, 2 M. Mercieca, R. Azzopardi, A. Micallef Trigona, 25 P. Apcev, A. Costa, 17 N. Vasovic, T. Paris, 9 A. Cremona, E. Caruana Montaldo, 11 JP Bonnici, S. Capello

Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, E. Mangani