A-Z Electronics 86
Siġġiewi Derby 89
(16-22, 9-23, 24-13, 37-31)
Siġġiewi Derby took some measure of revenge by beating newly-crowned champions Athleta A-Z Electronics in the season-ending Detur Cup to finish a turbulent MBA campaign on a good note.
This was a difficult season for all teams and it also finished on a bad note when tempers flared with a handful of seconds to go in a high-scoring match, yesterday.
Siġġiewi led the entire match but nearly spoiled their good work late on when some of their players lost control after Peter Shoults was fouled by Michael Naudi.
Siġġiewi had Lee Ross ejected and so was Etienne Bezzina, of Athleta. Order was restored and Athleta have no one else to blame but themselves for failing to force extra-time as they held possession.
Peter Farrugia’s men seemed well in control midway through the third quarter as they held a 26-point lead. Suddenly they lost composure, particularly Ross, and Athleta almost completed a remarkable comeback that would have yielded them a fifth title this season.
Turning the ball around well in attack, Siġġiewi opened strongly but a time-out helped Athleta to settle down with playmaker Omar Said on court.
Siġġiewi won the first quarter22-16 and again had the better opening after the two-minute break to stretch their lead to 30-20. Athleta were unable to conclude their attacks and their shooting was poor. Siġġiewi profited from the situation to change ends with a comfortable 46-25 lead.
Siġġiewi did well to administer their advantage for the first five minutes of the third quarter but then Athleta coach Joe Galea shifted tactics to press full court.
Siġġiewi looked stunned and gave away innumerable possessions as Steve Schembri led Athleta’s charge to close the gap to 55-49. Three free-throws helped Siġġiewi to recover while Athleta suffered a blow as Schembri was fouled out.
The last ten minutes were tense but Marco Matijevic was always a headache for Athleta underneath the boards.
Strangely, Siġġiewi, who had three players on four fouls, started pressing full court and that option misfired badly as Athleta potted three shots from outside the arc to close the gap to 89-84 with less than a minute left.
Shoults grabbed a crucial rebound after Athleta missed a three-pointer. Naudi was fouled out but arguments followed in mid-court. Ross and Bezzina got sent off and the referees were able to continue after almost four minutes.
Shoults missed his free-throws but Said was successful from his two. In was a three-point game and Athleta held possession.
Karl Borg, who had replaced Ross, committed an anti-sports foul with less than two seconds left.
Luckily for Siġġiewi, Kirsten Baldacchino was erratic from the free-throw line to dash his team’s hopes of another honour.
Athleta: M. Naudi 24, J. Zammit, D. Schembri 11, E. Bezzina, O. Said 21, C. Calleja, A. Bonnici 8, K. Baldac-chino 10, A. Ryan, S. Schembri 12.
Siġġiewi: P. Shoults 9, E. Xuereb, A. Borg 1, A. Micallef 24, L. Ross 19, K. Borg, J. Jetsen, M. Matijevic 36.
Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, A. Carbonaro.
Roll of honour (2010-11 men’s competitions)
Athleta: League, BOV KO, Super Cup, MBA Shield.
Siġġiewi: Louis Borg Cup, Detur Cup.