Siggiewi     59

Bell Net SN Suns     50

(9-12, 14-15, 17-13, 19-10)

Suns’ game in the first part of the match gave Siggiewi plenty of work to do but the second part of the match was a different affair and Suns fell foul of an emergent Siggiewi side who had control of the game in the latter stages where it really mattered.

Suns’ game became disjointed and they failed to trouble Siggiewi as they did before. For Siggiewi it was their second Shield honour in a row.

Siggiewi had Matthew Shoults back from storage and they also recovered John Doughty. Suns sported the same formation as in their previous matches.

The game opened up with promise and a flurry of triples. After Petar Vulovic’s one for Siggiewi Suns put in three two from Michael Barberi and another from Robert Camilleri. Suns held on to their advantage despite Siggiewi’s last efforts in the opening period. When Siggiewi went to within a point in the second period there was Simon Cauchi for Suns with his triple and free throws in a 7-1 run.

Hubert Agius extended Suns’ advantage but Vulovic dragged Siggiewi back to within a point once more. There were more free shots from Cauchi as Suns held their lead on a 27-23 score at the interval.

After the break Siggiewi’s pressure began to tell and they made up a good 12-2 run ending with Clayton Agius points and a triple.

It was then Suns to do the chasing but a Trevor Grech triple started a 10-3 run which went on till the end of the session and brought Suns level on points with a 40-40 score.

The final period had Suns drying up on points at the start with Siggiew putting in a 7-0 run. Suns tried to make up the difference but Siggiewi could reply to their hoops and so kept them at arms’ length. When Agius netted his second triple it was all over as there was little time left for Suns to make a comeback.

After the match the MBA president, Paul Sultana, presented the Siggiewi captain, Albert Borg, with this division’s first honour of the season.

Siggiewi: 22  P. Vulovic, 8 JP Antoncic, 18 C. Agius, J. Doughty, 3 L. Grech,  A. Borg, N. Falzon, E. Vella, 8 M. Shoults, A. Shoults, G. Agius,  A. Debattista

Suns: 6 K. Scicluna, 4 Ro. Camilleri,7  H. Agius, 8 M. Barberi, 3 T. Grech, 7 R. Mercieca,  Re. Camilleri, 11 S. Cauchi, 4 I. Marjanovic

Referees: G. Barbara, C. Terribile