Neptunes Grimaldi start their BOV KO title defence with a tough match against Premier League rivals Sliema Frank Salt Real Estate at the National Pool, today.
Last year, the Reds registered their 22nd success in the KO competition when beating Sliema 15-12 in the final.
Neptunes and Sliema were engaged in another thrilling derby from Day Nine of the Premier League on Sunday.
The Blues led for most of the match but in the end they almost finished empty-handed as Neptunes took a 9-8 lead through Steve Camilleri.
Kai Dowling, however, was on the right spot 12 seconds from time to score a deserved equaliser for Sliema, led on the occasion by new coach Dejan Milakovic.
Sliema have fallen behind in the race for the championship crown this summer as they trail current leaders San Ġiljan Crystal Finance by ten points with one match to go for the end of the second round.
That makes the KO tournament a more likely target for Milakovic, meaning he will be urging his players to produce another spirited display this evening to stay in contention for the honours.
However, Neptunes, two points behind San Ġiljan in the league standings, will be in no mood for complacency in this quarter-final, knowing victory over their sporting antagonists will keep them on course for an impressive fourth league and cup double in the last five years.
The other quarter-final will be contested by Relegation Pool contenders Valletta McDonald’s and Exiles Ferretti, tomorrow.
These two teams should be credited for showing resilience and great determination in their play despite lacking the same resources and strength in depth of the other teams in the top flight.
Last weekend, Exiles chalked up their first victory of the season at the expense of the Citizens. As the 8-7 scoreline indicates it was a close win for Maurizio Mirarchi’s team, raising the prospect of a thrilling cup tie tomorrow.
The winning team from the Sliema-Neptunes clash face Sirens Ritter Sport in the semi-finals while San Ġiljan, without success in the KO tournament since 1995, await the winner from the Valletta-Exiles tie.
The last-four matches will be played on August 7-8.
Meanwhile, Division One cup holders Marsascala were paired with Ta’ Xbiex Amigos in the semi-finals as Otters Nivea, the 2014 beaten finalists, come up against Marsaxlokk Fischer.
Both Premier League and Division One knock-out finals are scheduled for August 22.
Joint winners
Two players – Steve Camilleri (Neptunes) and Nicky Grixti (Sirens) – have been awarded with the BOV Player of the Month title, a first since the commencement of this contest.
Camilleri won the monthly award for players on numerous occasions. In June, he scored no fewer than 17 goals for Neptunes to maintain the pressure at the top of the table.
U-19 goalkeeper Nicholas Grixti was instrumental in Sirens’ victory over Sliema, and repeatedly denied San Ġiljan in a match which the team from St Paul’s Bay lost by a narrow margin.
The Division One award for June went to Marsaxlokk Fischer’s Claudio Spiteri Debarro.
Consistent performances, which include five goals against Otters, landed this individual award for Spiteri Debarro.
Paul Gauci, executive head BOV, and Joe Caruana Curran, ASA president, presented the awards to the winners.
Programme
Playing today: 18.15 Otters Nivea vs Marsaxlokk Fischer; 19.30 Sliema vs Neptunes.
Tomorrow: 18.15 Marsascala vs Ta’ Xbiex; 19.30 Valletta vs Exiles.