A-Z Electronics Athleta and Siggiewi will be facing each other in the Louis Borg Cup the coming weekend.

Athleta defeated Tata Motors Loyola in the two-match semi-final, while Siggiewi had the better of Depiro Mtarfa. The following are the reports of the four matches played over the weekend.

The first legs

Depiro Mtarfa     51

Siggiewi     57

(8-18, 12-15, 10-14, 21-10)

The  final place was still up for grabs after this first leg. Siggiewi enjoyed good advantages for the major part of the encounter but Depiro, as is their wont, came back strongly at the end to make the final score a much closer one thus keeping alive their hopes of a reversal of the score in the second leg.

Siggiewi had only themselves to blame when loss of concentration allowed Depiro to make up a good part of their deficit.

Depiro played with their standard formation. Siggiewi were missing Eman Xuereb and Jide Jetson but recovered Marco Matijevic who missed a couple of matches.

The start was in favour of Siggiewi with a three basket spread going on to a 10-2 advantage. Depiro didn’t make a proper reply and Alan Borg obliged for Siggiewi with personal points including a triple.

Depiro’s next two hoops had a suitable response from Siggiewi as they kept a double figure lead over their opponents.

In the second quarter Depiro had a triple from Abraham Portelli but they were at the wrong end of a 3-8 run with Louis Camilleri making up most of the points for Siggiewi. Depiro finally made a better reaction when Greg Hamlin and Adrian Micallef free throws made up a 9-2 run. They were not close yet and Siggiewi put in the period’s last points for a solid 33-20 lead at the interval.

After the break it was Roderick Vella and Micallef who sought to infuse some more depth into Depiro’s efforts to get back in the match. This didn’t suffice and Siggiewi could keep tabs on their opponents. Depiro were fractionally falling further behind and with a session to go Siggiewi were on a handsome 47-30 advantage and in control.

Depiro had to make their move but their opening two hoops had Siggiewi with a reply. Depiro’s next forays also brought a reaction from Siggiewi. A 7-0 run by Depiro promised better options for them and it was Siggiewi who had to work out how to keep a good lead.

They did finish in front but then, there were only six points in it with a second game to be played.

Depiro: 9  R. Vella,  JP Schembri, 3 A. Aquilina, 9 A Portelli, 9 A. Micallef, 2 E. Lupo, 2 M. Mallia, 6 I. Tanti, 11 G. Hamlin

Siggiewi: R. Agius, 6 L. Camilleri, 6 P. Shoults, 6 N. Sultana, 11 A. Borg,  JP Azzopardi, 12 C. Meier, 2 C. Kodomaris, 14 M. Matijevic

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro

Tata Motors Loyola     64

A to Z Elec. Athleta     68

(10-13, 16-31, 18-19, 20-7)

Athleta were heading towards a relaxed win which would have rendered the second game practically worthless but Loyola’s spirited revival in the final session had the champions looking in disbelief.

It all worked out so well for Athleta till the interval when they then contained their opponents and seemed to deal the killing blow in the last session, but Loyola had other ideas and the second match was still wide open.

Although Loyola’s first hoop was a triple by David Camilleri Athleta went out in front to a 6-3 lead. When Loyola went nearer it was the champions with a 7-2 run and a Mohammed Kuwaid triple to extend their advantage only for Clint Cassar to net another triple for Loyola and halve their arrears for the period.

In the second session Omar Said opened up for Athleta with personal points and a trey. Loyola could creep nearer once more as Billy Zammit nailed a triple but a 9-0 run and a Kuwaid triple had Athleta pulling away. They went further in front before Loyola replied with more triples by Camilleri and Zammit. The champions still managed to nullify these points with their late hoops and at the interval Athleta were enjoying a strong 43-26 advantage.

After the break, Loyola’s first efforts were handled by Athleta until Camilleri netted a further triple. Athleta were not worried with a handsome lead in their score.

Although Loyola also hiked up their tally the last points of the period were obtained by the champions including a second Said triple for a steady 61-44 lead.

In the final quarter Athleta were still netting their points and started with a 7-0 run and another Said trey That was as far as they went and the rest of the session belonged to Loyola. Hoop after hoop began to find their mark and a further two Camilleri triples along with more points from Rashanti Harris had Athleta looking over their shoulder at the advancing adversaries.

Athleta won the match but the issue was open to all interpretations in the next encounter.

Loyola: 5 S. Pace, 8 B. Zammit, 18 D. Camilleri, 3 C. Cassar, S. Borg, L. Azzopardi, S. Vella, 11 A. Axiaq,

J. Anastasi,  J. Ransley, 19 R. Harris

Athleta: 6 D. Bugeja, 18 M. Kuwaid, 7 D. Schembri,  M. Giusti, A. Fekete. 19 O. Said, 8 A. Bonnici,

10 K. Baldacchino

Referees: E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile

The second legs

Siggiewi     51

Depiro Mtarfa     49

(19-18, 8-12, 13-12, 11-7)

(Agg: 108-100)

Siggiewi had to sweat it out till late in the match as Depiro’s opposition brought about a close low score encounter which kept both sides in close contention for a place in the final.

Depiro were very near to success in the final period - just a basket away - but Siggiewi’s entry in the final came about from free shots as they recorded their third win over their adversaries this season.

The two teams had the same players as in the first match with Siggiewi still missing Eman Xuereb and Jide Jetson.

Depiro made the first hoops but it was Peter Shoults with Siggiewi’s reply ans also with a triple. The two sides remained locked until more triples found their mark as Alan Borg netted two more for Siggiewi along with another from Shoults and Roderick Vella made a likewise reaction for Depiro as the latter.

Then it was free throws for Depiro as they drew level. The game continued on an even scale with Siggiewi just keeping their noses in front till the end of the session.

In the second period both sides had difficulty in maintaining their points tally and the match became a confused one. Depiro twice managed to tie the score before Clement Kodomaris who went in for Marco Matijevic nailed a triple but Siggiewi’s advantage did not last till the interval as Depiro put in a three basket spread to lead 30-27 at the halfway stage.

After the break Siggiewi quickly forged ahead but Depiro had Andrew Aquilina with a triple. The lead changed hands three more times with the two teams sticking close to each other. It was only in the very last stages of the period that Aquilina netted a second triple for Depiro to take a 42-40 lead.

In the last period Depiro were holding on to their lead but the aggregate score had not been reached. Their points had all been obtained by Greg Hamlin including a triple, but Siggiewi had started their way back and their points were shared by Matijevic and Borg with the latter putting in a total of six free throws in a row late in the match to seal his side’s victory and to contest the coming final the next weekend.

Siggiewi:  R. Agius, 7 L. Camilleri, 11 P. Shoults, 4 N. Sultana, 14 A. Borg,  JP Azzopardi,  C. Meier, 3 C. Kodomaris, 12 M. Matijevic

Depiro: 5 R. Vella,  JP Schembri, 10 A. Aquilina, 5 A Portelli, 4 A. Micallef,  E. Lupo,  M. Mallia,  5 I. Tanti, 20 G. Hamlin

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro

A to Z Elec Athleta     70

Tata Motors Loyola     54

(12-19, 17-2, 25-14, 26-19)

(Agg: 138-118) 

Athleta lost their aggregate advantage early on in the game which had them with some anxious moments even putting in Michael Naudi on court.

All came out well in the end for them as they dominated the rest of the match to couple up with Siggiewi in yet another final their fourth one of the season. Loyola promised much at first but then they faded badly to bow to a superior force.

There were no changes in the two teams for this second encounter.

After Loyola’s opening hoop it was Mohammed Kuwaid with a triple for Athleta. Loyola’s reaction brought about a 7-0 run and a Clint Cassar trey with Athleta having to chase. Rashanti Harris’ hoops kept Loyola in the driving seat even when Omar Said netted another triple for the champions. Loyola’s advantage at this stage included the aggregate one.

In the second session Athleta began to take the upper hand. Loyola had to take the full lash of their adversaries’ kickback and the losers could only reply through a single basket whilst the champions who had Naudi back on court after his injury ended the period on a heavy 15-0 run and a second Said triple. This took them to a 29-21 advantage at the halftime buzzer and they regained their aggregate lead.

After the break there was no let up from Athleta. A 9-2 opening run with an Addison Bonnici triple was soon followed by a better 10-2 one this time with a David Bugeja trey. The triples were still coming for the champions as Bugeja and Kuwaid netted theirs and Loyola’s late points only brought some relief but the score remained a solid 54-35 one to Athleta.

Loyola did roll their sleeves up for the final session and a 7-2 run with a Billy Zammit trey and another 7-0 run with a David Camilleri triple lifted them. Athleta quickly dampened their aspirations as a 10-2 run mainly from free shots closed down the game denying their opponents any occasion of a repeat performance as in the first match. 

Athleta: 6 D. Bugeja, 18 M. Kuwaid, 7 D. Schembri,  M. Giusti, A. Fekete. 19 O. Said, 8 A. Bonnici, 10 K. Baldacchino

Loyola: 5 S. Pace, 8 B. Zammit, 18 D. Camilleri, 3 C. Cassar, S. Borg, L. Azzopardi, S. Vella, 11 A. Axiaq, J. Anastasi,  J. Ransley, 19 R. Harris

Referees: E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile