Tata Motors Loyola 68

Siggiewi Derby 62

(17-14)(18-16)(10-13)(23-19)

Siggiewi, on fire these last few weeks, had to bow to bottom club Loyola as the latter finished their league campaign with a flourish. A bright start to the match proved to be a good omen to Loyola who held sway for most of the encounter.

Maybe Siggiewi thought that all will work out right in the end bit Loyola had other ideas and the champions spent the final session frantically trying to make up the leeway which didn’t work out despite their triples.

Loyola were without Joshua Anastasi, Mark Cilia and Luke Azzopardi. The champions presented a seven man squad with Peter Shoults injured in training and John Doughty missing.

Loyola opened up with a brace of hoops but Lee Ross netted a triple for Siggiewi. Loyola then had Siggiewi on the rack with an 11-0 run ending with Jovan Mihailovic points including a triple.

Siggiewi settled down to post a period ending 11-2 run as Marco Matijevic netted a couple of triples and his side went to three points behind.

In the second session it was simply a case of Loyola extending their lead several times and Siggiewi reacting and going to appoint away.

This happened on five occasions but they didn’t make the breakthrough with Matijevic grabbing a handful of hoops. At the other end Loyola held out and a couple of baskets late in the period had them on a 35-30 advantage at the interval.

After the break Siggiewi built up a 9-2 run and took a lead for the first time. Loyola recovered and went in front once more.

The champions tied the score although points were not so plentiful as before. Late in the quarter it was Loyola again as they eked out another advantage and at the start of the last session they had a slight 45-43 lead.

Siggiewi fell further behind when Loyola managed an 8-0 run with a Shawn Pace trey. The champions had Ross with points and a triple but Loyola had a lead to fall on despite more triples for Siggiewi from Eman Xuereb and Matijevic.

Loyola relied on free throws as Siggiewi were vainly trying to steal balls. The latter went near. In the late stages but Loyola could hold out for their first ever victory over the champions.

Loyola: 13 S. Pace, 4 B. Zammit, 15 D. Camilleri, S. Borg, 1 S. Vella, 11 A. Axiaq, 20 J. Mihailovic, J. Ransley, 4 A. Tabone

Siggiewi: 3 E. Xuereb, 4 A. Borg, 8 A. Micallef, 12 L. Ross, K. Borg, 4 J. Jetson, 31 M. Matyijevic

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

A-Z Electronics finished on top with 23 points, followed by Siggiewi Derby on 20 and Bupa Luxol on 17.

The three teams go into the Championship Pool, taking the points with them. They will play two rounds between them. Winners now take two points for a win, and none for the losers, unlike the previous rounds, when the losing side took a point.