There was a feeling of déjà vu at the National Pool this summer as Sliema McDonald's lifted the summer honours in two successive weekends to register their 30th league triumph and 23rd KO win, successes which comprised the 11th 'double'.

Indeed, it was a familiar sight of the Sliema team lifting an honour in waterpolo. This time they inscribed their name for the first time on the newly-sponsored BOV prizes, with the championship title being won with weeks to spare.

Certainly the Blues' record is an enviable one... a success story in consonance with the best traditions of the Għar id-Dud team and one which sets the bar very high.

To say that Sliema were deserved winners of this summer's two major honours and the President's Cup is surely an understatement. They simply played the tune from the beginning to the end of the season.

They had a sound playing squad with a fine balance between youth and thoroughbreds, and definitely the best foreigners, a team which drew its strength from the players' insatiable greed for success.

Resilience, character and a killer instinct were the basis of their march towards the honours. No other team could match these qualities which were fully exploited under the stewardship of their coach Igor Gocanin, assisted by his understudy, the more taciturn Peter Decesare.

"The boys gave everything they had and played with great conviction. They were the strongest of all the contestants. Discipline was the hallmark of their game and when the occasion demanded they could raise their performance by more than a notch," a delighted Gocanin said soon after his team carried off the KO at the expense of Neptunes in last Sunday's final.

"Tactically, the boys played in perfect unison, with their defensive qualities standing out. I couldn't have asked for more."

The players had followed their coach's instructions almost to the last detail and that was of great satisfaction for the former Sliema player.

In truth the retro sensation of these successes was re-evoked when the Blues' former stalwart defender, Michael Gatt, now at the administrative helm as president of the club, gave me his views on the team's achievements this summer.

The man must surely be at the forefront statistically in terms of successes by Sliema as a player, a coach and now top official of Sliema ASC.

"I feel the team deservedly won the 'double'. In the games that mattered we were always superior as we were able to rise to the occasion and play our best waterpolo," Gatt commented as if he reminisced being still a part of the playing squad.

"The lads were also physically well-prepared from early on in the season and had the right mix between experience and youth. In addition, we found the right foreigners for the right positions and all of them blended into our style of play.

"To cap a very successful season my club also carried off the U-19 'double', which augurs well for the future."

As for the other teams, one can say that outgoing champions Neptunes Vodafone were a disappointing lot even allowing for the fact that captain Niki Lanzon and last season's Player of the Year Steve Camilleri were, between them, sidelined for the whole season.

Sirens Centro Casalinga flattered to deceive despite the ill-luck that hit them, which also saw the team forfeiting the services of one of their foreigners. On their part, San Ġiljan could not quite make an impact, never mind their short bench.

Exiles Elle-et-Vire wrapped up the Second Division 'double' for a truly memorable year, with the seasoned Ta' Xbiex Mermaids Paradise giving them a good run for their spoils.

Marsacala Ocean and Sky and Marsaxlokk Freeport did not quite live to expectations, while Otters had the tag of 'also rans' written all over them.