Big guns avoid each other in semis

Holders BUPA Luxol and Hibs Medsea had a favourable draw in the BOV KO semi-finals, held yesterday at the BOV headquarters in Sta Venera.

The major Malta Basketball Association cup competition is already underway this season with the preliminary round matches played at Ta' Qali recently.

BUPA Luxol and Dakar Sliema Wanderers, formerly Pembroke, qualified to the last four in the men's competition after beating Depiro (70-69) and Siggiewi Smina (80-56) respectively.

In the women's KO, Depiro, Kerygma and Hibs Medsea won their preliminary round matches to join Dakar Sliema Wanderers in the semi-finals. In the previous round, Dakar were awarded a bye.

Yesterday's draws, chaired by MBA secretary Frank Camilleri, saw BUPA Luxol, the 2006 KO winners, avoiding 2005 Malta champions Dakar Sliema Wanderers and pitted against the modest Qormi Kia. Dakar SW were drawn to face minnows Floriana.

The two men's semi-finals will be played on the weekend of January 27 and 28 with the winners meeting in the final on March 4.

Hibs, winners of the women's KO competition for the past nine years, were handed a relatively easy passage to the final when they were drawn to meet Kerygma on February 3.

The following day, Depiro take on Dakar Sliema Wanderers in the other semi-final. The final is scheduled for February 25.

The Division Two KO final will be played on February 18 when Mosta take on Loyola Xuereb Installations.

It was announced yesterday that as from this season the competition will have a new logo, launched during yesterday's news conference.