Siggiewi 51

A to Z Electronics Athleta 60

(17-15, 16-10, 6-18, 12-17)

Athleta were soundly beaten by Siggiewi, just a week ago, although they still won the Louis Borg Cup, on aggregate. Halfway through the encounter they were trailing once more, but a solid burst, and some fine defensive work, helped them to overcome the difficulties, and an uplifting performance by captain, Michael Naudi, procured the desired victory. Athleta will now meet Bupa Luxol in the semis.

Siggiewi had their absent players for this match, Nigel Sultana, Clement Kodomaris and Jean Paul Azzopardi. Athleta were without Ivan Buldakov, and Steve Schembri was still only warming the bench.

Athleta grabbed the first two hoops, but Siggiewi responded, as Louis Camilleri had a reply to Naudi’s hoops. Athleta held on to their advantage, until some Siggiewi pressure yielded a good 9-2 run, which had Peter Shoults nailing a couple of triples, and his side went into a lead.

Athleta’s last hoops, before the end of the period, were not enough to overturn the score, with Siggiewi on a single basket advantage. In the second session Siggiewi made up a 7-0 run, as Alan Borg went on court to sink a triple. Athleta reacted but they could only gnaw away at their deficit, until Borg netted another triple, and Siggiewi held on to a useful lead till the end of the period despite Athleta’s efforts to get nearer to their opponents. At the interval Siggiewi were 33-25 in front.

After the break Siggiewi were caught cold, and Naudi led his side to a solid 11-0 run, making nearly all the points. Siggiewi could only put in a couple of free throws, before the champions struck once more, with a 7-1 run and their new advantage crept up.

A late Shoults basket brought the score to 39-43, but Siggiewi were still trailing, after being so long ahead. Omar Said put in a triple for Athleta, but Siggiewi drew nearer, only to find Naudi determined to stay in front.

His points denied Siggiewi the lead, as the losers kept just a basket behind. In the last stages of the match Naudi took it on himself to obtain the decisive points, leaving Siggiewi just out of reach, and unable to overtake their adversaries, with the final score being a little unkind to Siggiewi

Siggiewi R. Agius, 1 K. Borg, 4 L. Camilleri, 11 P. Shoults, 2 E. Xuereb, 6 A. Borg, 16 C. Meier, 11 M. Matijevic

Athleta 33 M. Naudi, D. Bugeja, 3 D. Schembri, M. Giusti, 8 A. Fekete, 7 O. Said, 5 A. Bonnici, 4 K. Baldacchino, S. Schembri

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