Basketball - National League Div I

 

Siggiewi                                72                              

Tata Motors Loyola         55 

(18-12, 17-14, 20-15, 17-14)                  

Siggiewi returned from three defeats, to beat Loyola for the third time this season. Loyola did not repeat their heroics against Luxol, but Siggiewi are now back again in the fray for a place in the Championship Pool, despite the fact that they presented only seven players for this encounter.

Clayton Agius and Jide Jetson were missing for Siggiewi, whilst Loyola were without Jonathan Ransley.

Siggiewi started off with a 7-2 run, which set the pace for the match, with Loyola continually chasing their opponents, but never making the overlap. It was Marco Matijevic leading Siggiewi at this stage, with Loyola’s Dom Mazzocchi well marshalled, leaving JP Azzopardi to lead the attack. . Siggiewi were in front, and in the second period, after some balanced play, a three basket spread had Siggiewi in a better position. Loyola also netted three hoops, to draw closer, but Siggiewi managed to end the session on a 7-2 run, with Peter Shoults points, to neutralise Mazzocchi’s tally. At the interval Siggiewi were on a 35-26 advantage.

After the break another three basket run had Siggiewi edging away. Mazzocchi did all he could for Loyola, but Siggiewi were uncompromising, as Chris Meier and Alan Borg took them to a healthy 55-41 score, with a session to play. Early triples from Siggiewi, by Borg and Eman Xuereb, took the stuffing out of Loyola. Siggiewi kept on with another 8-2 run, mainly from Matijevic, before made a late rally, with a 10-1 run, which only served to make the final score more respectable.

Matijevic collected 21 points, along with 15 from Meier, 14 by Borg and 13 netted by Shoults, for the winners. Loyola had Mazzocchi with 28 points, but little else.

Siggiewi: N. Falzon 1, P. Shoults 13, E. Xuereb 4, A. Borg 14, C. Meier 15, A. Fekete 4, M. Matijevic 21

Loyola: I. Buldakov , B. Zammit 4, AJ Sarrio 5, C. Cassar 1, S. Borg , L. Azzopardi,  S. Vella 8, A. Axiaq 2, JP Azzopardi 7, D. Mazzocchi 28           

Referees: E. Mangani, C. Terribile, S. Gouder