Depiro keep the momentum going

Siggiewi Smina 55
(14-13, 17-15, 20-17, 4-21)
Depiro 66

Siggiewi controlled most of this game against Depiro but faltered badly in the last quarter, allowing the newly-promoted team to take the initiative and cruise home to a second successive victory.

Siggiewi had playmaker Marco Pisani back in their ranks. The team profited from their height advantage as fast player Roderick Vella was under tight scrutiny, leaving Depiro struggling to conclude their attacks.

Siggiewi captain John Doughty was hit with four fouls early on but his team played on to open a 27-17 lead by the fifth minute of the second quarter.

By the half-time whistle Depiro had narrowed the gap to three points - 31-28. They also managed to take the lead in the opening minutes after the interval but Siggiewi regained the upperhand, 51-45, at the end of the session.

Depiro coach Adrian Mifsud changed his defence tactics and opted to double mark Siggiewi pivot Jeffrey Gatt and Pisani. This move paid rich dividends. The inexperienced Michel Farrugia and Clint Griscti were trying from the three-point line without success. Depiro pounced on the rebounds, mounted fast breaks which paved the way for their unexpected comfortable win.

Siggiewi: M. Pisani 13, J. Doughty 6, H. Agius 4, R, Mifsud 2, N. Borg 2, J. Gatt 22, A. Farrugia, C. Griscti 4, M. Farrugia 2.

Depiro: R. Vella 19, J. Vassallo, M. Sammut, P. Schultz 23, C. Agius 2, J. Vella, M. Ciantar 2, J.P. Azzopardi 14, E. Lupi 4, A. Schultz, M. Mallia 2, D. Agius.

Referees: C. Farrugia, S. Micallef.

Footwork 54
(24-14, 14-12, 8-20, 8-24)
Hamrun Go Mobile 70

This was Hamrun's second victory but they had to fight hard to lower the colours of Footwork, who, once again, were let down by a lack of fighting spirit and discipline. With some key players missing, Footwork were also handicapped by their fouls situation.

In the last session, they lost Addison Bonnici, Louis Camilleri and Ian Mercieca, leaving coach Ray Muscat without substitutions.

Hamrun coach Alfred Mifsud must find solutions in his attack as his players are performing below their normal standards with Jide Jetsen guilty of wasting countless chances.

Footwork had a strong opening and continued to be the better team notwithstanding their technical and unsportsmanship fouls.

Though having to substitute pivot Bonnici, after collecting his fourth foul, Footwork went in for the interval 38-26 in front.

Hamrun were a different lot after the break and levelled the score before the end of the session - 46-46. Then, they took the lead and with Footwork losing composure in the opening minutes, Hamrun were in absolute command and never looked back.

Footwork: L. Camilleri 7, I. Mercieca, C. Sammut 27, M. Barberi 8, J.P. Bonnici 5, A. Bonnici 5, A. Huizer 2, E. Xuereb.

Hamrun: S. Pace 13, K. Borg, D. Camilleri 5, A. Spiteri 5, A. Borg 4, A. Portelli, O. Said 36, J. Jetsen 7, N. Falzon, I. Terrible, S. Gouder.

Referees: C. Farrugia, G. Barbara.

Pembroke canter home to victory at Luxol's expense

Bupa Luxol 51
(11-18, 15-16, 12-18, 13-17)
Pembroke 69

Pembroke were in a class of their own in this match, bar a brief patch at the start of the second session. With Schembri brothers, Dirk and Steve, far from effective, the only consolation for Luxol coach John Tabone is the improvement of young pivot Andrew Cremona, his side's top-scorer.

With sharp shooter Robert Azzopardi still missing and Silvio Cassar on the sidelines with injury Luxol were unable to get their attack going as Pembroke raced to a 15-6 lead after the sixth minute.

Trailing 18-11, Luxol surprised the Reds as the second quarter got underway to forge 22-21 ahead. Their joy was short-lived though as Pembroke surpassed this difficult moment to change ends 34-26 ahead.

With Luxol unable to put any sort of pressure on Pembroke's zone defence, Joe Galea's team were never troubled to maintain their 100 per cent record after two outings.

Luxol: A. Cremona 14, M. Mercieca 9, M. Micallef 2, D. Schembri, B. Micallef Trigona, M. Bonnici 5, R. Dalli, A. Bianchi 9, E. Caruana Montaldo, S. Cassar 2. S. Schembri 10.

Pembroke: M. Naudi 22, J. Naudi 10, M. Zammit 13, E. Bezzina 8, J. Galea, L. Fenech, D. Cuschieri 6, M. Pisani 5, D. Ross 5.

Referees: B. Vassallo, J.P. Sammut.

Standings:

Depiro, Pembroke, Hamrun 4; Luxol, Footwork, Siggiewi 2.

Top scorers:

O. Said (Hamrun) 51, M. Naudi (Pembroke) 46, R. Vella (Depiro) 45, P. Schultz ( Depiro) 41, M. Zammit (Pembroke ) 37.

Next fixtures:

Tomorrow - 6.15 p.m. Pembroke vs Siggiewi, 7.45 p.m. Luxol vs Footwork.

Thursday - 7.45 p.m. Depiro vs Hamrun.