Fleur De Lys Royal Panda crowned champions

Fleur De Lys Royal Panda are the new winners of the local volleyball tournament after beating Balzan Flyers 3-2 in decisive match after the two teams finished equal points in the championship.

This was the fourth honour Fleur De Lys Royal Panda won this season having won the Super Cup, the John Bugeja Cup and the Christmas Cup.

A numerous attendance witnessed the exciting match, definitely a positive testimony for local volleyball and the Maltese Association of Volleyball.

Balzan Flyers led by Serbian coach Muncin won the first set 2725 after having managed to win two consecutive points of Dworniczak services.

In the second set Fleur de Lys Royal Panda dropped their mistakes and managed to maintain the initial advantage of El Gasi with good services and good blocks from Sebok helped the team to win the set 25-15.

In the third set, Fleur De Lys Royal Panda emerged very well and built a good advantage but Balzan Flyers replied through Maleseroka, whose attacks helped the team to turn the set to their favour and went 2-1.

The combative spirit throughout the match continued in the following set and Fleur de Lys Royal Panda, led by coach Gauci, rose up to the occasion and won the fourthset 25 -22. Instrumental in this set were the attacks by Grech Gatt.

True to level of the two clubs, the match and the much coveted ‘champion’ title had to be decided in the fifth set.

Here, Fleur de Lys Royal Panda were superior and with Polato impeccable in defence and the attacks of Xuereband Sarcina, they closed the match 15-9 to become the new winners of the Maltese league. The match was refereed by Nello Calleja assisted by Mark Soler.

After the match the president of the association, Jesmond Saliba, presented the cup to Fleur De Lys Royal Panda master Maria Costa to the delight of the numerous supporters who attended for this final.

Saliba hailed the spirit and level of the game which was also confirmed one week earlier in the final of the National Cup, which saw Balzan Flyers edge Sliema Wanderers 3-2 in another high quality match. The same high level was witnessed in the First Division, which this year was won by Swieqi Phoenix.