The MBA Shield got underway last weekend at the renovated Ta' Qali pavilion. Footwork were off to a positive start, beating Siggiewi Smina in Group A while in Group B, Hamrun Go Mobile did likewise when notching a sound win over Depiro.
Footwork 63
Siggiewi Smina 59
(18-10, 12-15, 16-13, 17-21 )
The new-look Siggiewi side struggled to impose their play on an organised Footwork team, led by their former coach Ray Muscat.
Siggiewi had six players missing from last season's squad and the new recruits will need time to prove that they can atone for the departure of Steve and Dirk Schembri, Nathan Farrugia, Abraham Portelli and Adrian Micallef.
With Siggiewi struggling to settle into a decent rhythm, Footwork profited to race into a 12-3 lead. Gradually, Siggiewi came more into the picture but they still trailed their opponents by eight points at the end of the first quarter, 10-18.
The inclusion of Marco Pisani helped Siggiewi move just one basket away from their opponents but Footwork hit two consecutive three-pointers to forge 24-16 ahead. Muscat's team held off their opponents' comeback to go into the interval 30-25 ahead.
Footwork kept the upperhand in the third quarter, increasing their advantage to 19 points, 57-38, at the start of the final session.
Pisani and Jeffrey Gatt were roped back into the team by coach Martin Musumeci in an attempt to get Siggiewi back into contention.
These substitutions worked as Siggiewi bounced back to reduce the gap to only three points with two minutes to go.
However, their hopes were ended when former SN Suns player Alex Farrugia lost possession after a double-teaming, clearing the way for Footwork to pot two precious points and hold on to their victory.
Footwork: L. Camilleri 5, S. Sammut 14, C. Sammut 14, I. Mercieca 1, I. Curmi, J.P. Bonnici 6, A. Bonnici 9, R. Loporto, A. Huizer 8, E. Xuereb 6.
Siggiewi: P. Attard, M. Pisani 23, D. Bugeja, J. Doughty, H. Agius, R. Mifsud 10, N. Borg 3, J. Gatt 13, A. Farrugia 2, M. Farrugia 4, C. Griscti 4.
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Jean Paul Sammut.
Hamrun Go Mobile 90
Depiro 54
(31-11, 23-8, 12-21, 24-14)
Hamrun Go Mobile, this season under the sole guidance of Alfred Mifsud, easily brushed aside the challenge of promoted team Depiro in the second match from the MBA Shield played last Sunday.
The close-season signings of Malta playmaker and forward Omar Said, formerly of Pembroke, and ex-Siggiewi post Abraham Portelli, should place Hamrun among the favourites for honours this season.
The young Depiro side, who signed Mark Ciantar from Mellieha, found the going tough, especially in the first two quarters. Hamrun's zone defence made it very hard for Depiro to attain points.
Hamrun's early superiority saw them distancing themselves from their opponents through a combination of long-distance shots and baskets from underneath the board.
By half-time, Hamrun held a comfortable 35-point lead, 54-19.
After the interval, Depiro sought to reduce the deficit as Hamrun's tempo dropped.
Depiro took advantage of the situation to win the third quarter and move 26 points behind their opponents, 66-40.
Hamrun recovered from their temporary slump to re-establish their healthy lead, beating Depiro 90-54.
Hamrun: S. Pace 19, K. Borg 3, D. Camilleri 7, A. Spiteri 9, A. Borg 10, A. Portelli 6, O. Said 22, J. Jetsen 2, P. Ferrante 3, I. Terrible 7, S. Gouder 2.
Depiro: R. Vella 15, J. Vassallo, M. Sammut, P. Schultz 17, C. Agius 1, J. Vella, M. Ciantar 4, J.P. Azzopardi 12, E. Lupo 2, A. Schultz, M. Mallia 2, D. Agius 1.
Referees: Carlo Farrugia, Gordon Barbara.
Next MBA Shield fixtures: Sunday - 2.30 p.m. Depiro vs Luxol; 4.15 p.m. Siggiewi vs Pembroke.