Pembroke through, await challenger

Champions Pembroke are the first team to book a place in the Kinnie League final play-offs after overcoming Footwork 3-0 in the series.

They now await their opponents from the tie between Hamrun Go Mobile and BUPA Luxol.

Hamrun are now leading 2-1.

Footwork 73
Pembroke 86
(21-16, 14-20, 16-25, 22-25)

Pembroke are again in the final after this hard-earned victory over Footwork who were making their first showing at this stage of the competition.

Footwork lack experience compared to their more illustrious rivals but held a 12-point lead mid-way through the second half.

Then, they lost their plot and accuracy from the three-point line as Pembroke recovered the rebounds to change ends a point in front.

That was perhaps the turning point of this match.

After a balanced start, Footwork started to pull away in the last minutes of the first half to hold a 28-16 lead. Footwork suddenly hit a bad patch as Joe Galea's team went in for the break leading 36-35.

The champions continued to be the better side after the interval to stretch their lead to 48-39.

Footwork hit back admirably though and managed to cut that gap to four points - 70-66.

But, again, Footwork started to miss their shots when needed most. Pembroke applied the killing touch to secure their berth in the final with a clear 3-0 series win.

Footwork: L. Camilleri 11, S. Sammut 16, M. Barberi, C. Sammut 28, I. Mercieca, J.P. Bonnici, A. Bonnici 14, E. Xuereb 4, A. Huizer.

Pembroke: M. Naudi 20, J. Naudi 6, M. Zammit, E. Bezzina 20, J. Galea, C. Calleja, J. Zammit, J.P. Azzopardi 3, D. Cuschieri 16, M. Pisani 10, J. Ransley 6, D. Ross 5.

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

Bupa Luxol 48
Hamrun Go Mobile 64
(8-18, 15-14, 12-11, 13-21)

Hamrun put behind their backs the opaque display in the second game of this series and, taking advantage from Luxol's bad day from the shooting line, they are now a game away from the final.

While Hamrun potted 13 three-pointers during the match, Luxol only managed two. Indeed, the early signs were not auspicious at all for Luxol.

They fumbled possession on three successive occasions, giving their opponents great confidence as Alfred Mifsud's team sped to an 18-8 lead by the end of the first session.

Luxol improved as the second session got underway but after closing the game to a single point 22-21, they could not resist Hamrun 's strong reaction in the last minutes before the interval to change ends 32-23 behind.

Eight points in quick succession, after the fifth minute, saw Luxol back in contention but once again erratic play allowed Hamrun, with Omar Said very much in evidence with his sharp shooting, to recover and hold a 53-42 lead with five minutes left.

Luxol were now a demoralised lot as Hamrun ascertained victory in emphatic style.

Luxol: A. Cremona 3, M. Mercieca 7, R. Azzopardi 3, M. Micallef, D. Schembri 4, B. Micallef Trigona, R. Dalli, A. Bianchi, E. Caruana Montaldo, S. Cassar 18, S. Schembri 13.

Hamrun: S. Pace 16, K. Borg 4, A. Spiteri 2, A. Borg 5, A. Portelli 7, O. Said 22, J. Jetsen 8, N. Falzon, I. Terrible, S. Gouder.

Refs: C. Farrugia, S. Micallef.

Next fixture: (Thursday - Game Four) 7.45 p.m. Hamrun vs Luxol.

Peugeot League

Naxxar Danone won a hard-fought match against the misfiring Hibs Go Mobile to send the semi-final series to a fifth deciding match.

It seems that Hibs have not recovered from the loss of chief point-getter Lucienne Bezzina. Naxxar had a strong opening and, perhaps, this led to their victory in the end.

Hibs took more than expected to settle down and by that time Naxxar were 11-2 up.

Mario Tabone's girls started showing better play but could not wipe out the gap, at least until half-time - 29-24.

With Naxxar holding a five-point lead, 43-38, as the last ten minutes got underway, Hibs finally forged ahead 46-45

The last few minutes were tense. A Sandra Schembri Wismayer basket put Naxxar back in front. Dawn Aquilina missed for Hibs as Schembri Wismayer free-throw settled the issue at 51-49 for Joe Miceli's team.

Next fixture: (tomorrow - Game Five) 6.15 p.m. Hibs vs Naxxar.