Siggiewi 91

Bupa Luxol 69

(18-15, 17-20, 22-16, 34-18)

Siggiewi were back on the winning trail after three defeats while Luxol were suffering their third loss in a row. Siggiewi also paid back the minimal defeat against the Violets in the previous round. Luxol suffered a relapse in the last quarter of play and their comeback came too late to save the match.

Siggiewi pipped Luxol for fourth place thanks to direct encounters’ scores.

They recovered Louis Camilleri and Luke Grima was also included. Luxol had Andrew Micallef Trigona missing.

Siggiewi began with Marco Matijevic points and a triple. Luxol were hit again soon after with an 8-2 run as Siggiewi enhanced their advantage.

The violets recovered well with a 9-0 run from Nikola Vasovic and Jeron Belin, the latter also with a triple. Alan Borg netted a Siggiewi trey and they held on to their lead till the end of the session.

In the second period Luxol’s Lee Ross sank a brace of triples as the Violets went in front. Siggiewi put in a couple of hoops to regain the lead. Belin popped up for Luxol with personal points and another advantage. The lead continued to change hands as Jean Paul Bonnici made points for Luxol and Matijevic replied for Siggiewi.

Alan Borg nailed a trey for Siggiewi for a tied score and baskets at both ends had the tally at 35-35 at the interval.

After the break, both sides stayed close to each other. Besides a slight Luxol lead, the teams were on level terms twice more. Siggiewi then pushed forward with an 8-2 run beginning with an Eman Xuereb triple. Free throws brought the Violets closer but Siggiewi had Matijevic with a second trey to keep their opponents at arm’s length for a 57-51 score.

The last session was more beneficial to Siggiewi with Luxol unable to respond properly. Xuereb netted a second triple for Siggiewi who then made up a 7-0 run with their free shots.

After Luxol’s second hoop, Siggiewi were back once more with an 8-0 run and the game was theirs, even though there was still time to be played.

Luxol did put in more triples from Bonnici and Belin but Siggiewi were way ahead when Karl Borg also nailed a triple for them.

Siggiewi: R. Agius, A. Cutajar, L. Camilleri,  16 E. Xuereb, L. Grima, 12 A. Borg, 3 K. Borg, 28 C. Meier, C. Kodomaris, 32  M. Matijevic

Luxol: 2 CJ Cordina, 3 M. Mercieca, 29 J. Belin, 19  L. Ross, A. Costa, 6 N. Vasovic, 2 T. Paris, M. Attard Montalto, E. Caruana Montaldo, 8 JP Bonnici, S. Cappello

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, C. Terribile