Siggiewi Derby 56

A to Z Elec. Athleta 85

(8-19)(18-17)(12-19)(18-30)

Athleta collected their third honour of the season and also recorded their sixth victory in nine matches over Siggiewi. It was the eighth time that Athleta won this honour keeping it from their win last season.

Siggiewi have yet to win the K.O. being now involved in three lost finals. Siggiewi fell behind early and had to chase all the way. Athleta made sure late in the third session and at the start of the last one giving their adversaries no occasion to gather themselves up for a final push.

Siggiewi recovered both Peter Shoults and Lee Ross but the former was not fully match fit. Athleta sported their full squad for this final.

Athleta started out with a brace of hoops but Siggiewi reacted with a Marco Matijevic triple to take a lead. Athleta closed down their defence and proceeded to put in an 11-0 run with an Omar Said triple as they broke clear early on in the match.

Siggiewi stopped them late in the session but they could only share the play leaving Athleta on a good advantage.

In the second quarter after an early Matijevic hoop Athleta struck once more with a 10-0 run and triples from Said again and Steve Schembri. Siggiewi were left behind but recovered to make up a 9-0 run.

They were stopped but returned and free throws from Adrian Micallef and a Lee Ross triple had them closer with a 7-2 run. Said hit home his third trey and Athleta went in at the interval on a 36-26 advantage.

After the break Siggiewi crawled nearer starting with a 7-2 run and a second Ross triple. Athleta recovered to post a better lead. Karl Borg netted a Siggiewi triple but then they had to endure a strong Athleta run going up to 12-0 and at the beginning of the last period Siggiewi had fallen behind to a 38-55 deficit.

Athleta drove home their superiority with another 9-0 run and the die was cast. Siggiewi’s attempts to react came up against more Athleta treys from Addison Bonnici and Said once more.

Another Ross triple for Siggiewi only served to jolt Athleta into another 9-0 run with a Dirk Schembri triple. There were more points at either basket but the game was already over for some time.

After the encounter the presentation of the winning trophy was made by the BOV Marketing and PR Manager Edward Muscat Azzopardi to the Athleta captain Michael Naudi, as his side celebrated their third seasonal honour.

Siggiewi: P. Shoults, J. Doughty, E. Xuereb, 2 A. Borg, 13 A. Micallef, 11 L. Ross, 3 K. Borg, 6 J. Jetson, 21 M. Matijevic

Athleta: 15 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, C. Galea, E. Bezzina, 13 D. Schembri, 24 O. Said, 11 A. Bonnici, 7 K. Baldacchino, 1 A. Ryan, 14 S. Schembri

Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, A. Carbonaro