Sliema's dominance under threat
Sirens zoom in on sixth title
Sliema Burger King's supremacy in local waterpolo will be severely tested this evening when they play a crucial game against current Division One leaders 2X Sirens.
With only two matches to go for the end of the national league, Sirens are now leading the standings with 17 points, two ahead of Sliema and Marsascala Breakers with the disappointing Neptunes Vodafone bottom of the table on the 13-point mark.
Sliema have played below expectations in the second phase of the championship. From four matches, they lost twice and drew the other two. They cannot afford to miss out again today against Sirens.
Anything but a victory for Ljubisa Mekcic's team means Sliema's hopes of a unique five national league titles on the trot will disappear in thin air. That would pave the way for Sirens to march towards their sixth championship after the ones of 1959, 1960, 1961, 1967 and 2000.
John Farrugia has done wonders at Sirens this summer, particularly in this second phase of the league.
They started as underdogs but with Jonathan Valletta also finding his scoring touch in time, they achieved the most stunning results after the Preliminary Round and deservedly stay top of the standings.
Today's match is no decider but Sirens will be looking to make up for the upset of 2001 when they lost a play-off for the championship to Sliema (8-7) after both sides had finished equal on points in the standings.
Marsascala will be interested spectators today, knowing a slip-up by Sirens will see them back in the reckoning if they beat Neptunes tomorrow.
Many had ruled the southerners out of contention after the drubbing they received against Sirens last month. But the side bounced back in style to beat Sliema in their last match.
Mathematics say Neptunes are still not out of the race but their hopes look faint and indeed remote as results in other matches have to go their way to stand a chance. Their only aspiration is to force a decider with all four teams finishing on 17 points.
Next Matches: (Today) 6 p.m. Otters vs Marsaxlokk; 7 p.m. Sirens vs Sliema. (Tomorrow) 5 p.m. San Giljan vs Ta' Xbiex; 6 p.m. Exiles vs Valletta; 7 p.m. Marsascala vs Neptunes.