Floriana Francesco Fenech 80 Bupa Luxol 87

(12-26, 15-24, 19-14, 34-23)

Played in front of a large, and appreciative crowd, Floriana, playing in this final for the first time, failed to regale their vociferous supporters with the winning trophy, but their endeavour was met by tumultuous applause from their end, despite the narrow defeat. On the other hand, the wily Luxol side made sure before the interval, when they built up a hefty advantage, with a different scenario from the games that they played before, as their peripheral players played a big part in this win. Jeron Belin was still the main focus, but other players drifted in place quietly, to notch up the score. The Greens, as usual, rested on the huge haul that Evan Fjeld acquired, but they were left behind in the first part of the game, and although they returned with a will, they just could not get within the striking distance, and the Violets held out for their victory, which brings up their total successes to sixteen, in this, their favourite competition.

Both sides were at full strength for this encounter.

Luxol were quick off the mark, with a 7-2 run, and a Belin triple. Floriana were giving away too much space, and Luxol made up another 8-0 run, this time with a couple of Jean Paul Bonnici treys. The Greens tried to get back in the game, with a Steve Sammut long throw, but the Violets were not to be denied, and Belin continued to to puit in his points, also another triple, with Floriana falling further behind. In the second sessionthings didn’t improve so much for Floriana, with Bonnici and Marco Mercieca sinking their triples for the VioletsAt that point Fjeld was having a hard time against the stout Luxol rearguard. It was Chris Sammut with a trey for the Greens, , but their points always had luxol with a suitable reply. Late in the period Belin and mercieca netted more triples for Luxol, who then had a satisfying 50-27 advantage over the crestfallen Floriana.

After the breakthe Greens began their long way back. A 12-2 run, with Fjeld beginning to pur them in, had the Floriana faithful urging their players on. Luxol put a stop to the matter, with a good finish to the session, and a 7-0 run, with a further Belin trey, put them on the 64-46 mark, with a last quarter to be played. The Violets actually edged further in front, to a 70-50 lead, when Floriana made their last fling. A 12-2 run, with a second Steve Sammut triple, was followed by a 9-4 run. Luxol lost Bonnici and Belin on fouls, and they became wary. When Floriana tried to stop the clock, the Violets put their free throws in, and Floriana never got within the range, to win a major honour, and make up for the disappointment at losing out on a championship playoff place.

After the game the BOV Chief Officer, Peter Perotti, presented the trophies to the set of rival brothers, Ian Mercieca for the losers, Floriana, and Marco Mercieca, to start off the Luxol celebrations.

Floriana J. Curmi, 7 C. Sammut, 7 I. Mercieca, 10 S. Sammut. 12 C. Calleja, 2 A. Baldacchino, 38 E. Fjeld, 2 A. Sultana,2 M. Ciantar

Luxol CJ Cordina, 11 M. Mercieca, 36 J. Belin, 8 A. Micallef Trigona, 9 L. Ross, 1 A. Costa, 4 N. Vasovic, 2 T. Paris, E. Caruana Montaldo, 16 JP Bonnici, S. Cappello

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