Overtime win for Marvels
Siggiewi St. Nicholas46
Marvels Power Plus 53
(after overtime)
(2-3, 13-7, 12-20, 17-14) - (2-9)
The start of the match didn’t promise much with both sets of players finding great difficulty in obtaining points but then gradually it developed in an intriguing match which had to go into overtime before Marvels finally could start off their league march with a victory.
The Siggiewi duo Hubert Agius and Keith Scicluna tried hard but they couldn’t prevent their side from a defeat.
Siggiewi had their absentees the Pole Kamil Maruda, Gareth Cutajar and they still await the start of their Spanish import David Garcia. Marvels had Matthew Fenech in lieu of Melchior Formosa.
Clayton Camenzuli obtained the first paltry points for Marvels in the opening session with Siggiewi leaving it till very late as Hubert Agius netted his first hoop right at the end of the session.
In the next period, the game began to pick up. Marvels’ Luke Azzopardi and Siggiewi’s Scicluna both sank triples. Marvels fell away somewhat at this time with Siggiewi thrusting forward and making up a long 10-2 run mainly from Agius and Scicluna to hold a low 15-10 advantage at the interval.
After the break, Marvels began to come into their own. They first went a hoop behind and after a Siggiewi reaction, Marvels made up a 7-0 run to step in front.
Hubert Agius points had Siggiewi on a tied score with Marvels again taking another advantage. A Robert Alosco triple had Siggiewi nearer but Azzopardi’s hoops had Marvels on a 30-27 lead.
In the last period, Marvels extended their lead only for Siggiewi to respond with an 8-1 run grabbing a single point advantage.
The lead then changed hands four more times before a late surge had Siggiewi taking a late lead. Azzopardi’s free shot for Marvels took the match into overtime on a 44-44 score.
Marvels were the better side limiting their opponents to a single hoop as they opened up a winning advantage with Jonathan Ransley making sure of the result with his last points.
Siggiewi: J. Carter, JP Antoncic 1, K., Scicluna 12, H. Agius 20, G. Agius 3, R, Alosco 8, R. Camilleri 2, C. Bezzina, M. Ciantar
Marvels: L. Azzopardi 8, L. Galea, D. Pisani 9, R. Curmi 5, D. Debattista 8, C. Camenzuli 3, C. Briffa 8, M. Fenech, J. Ransley 12, K. Magri
Referees: E. Mangani, I, Marjanovic