(TMI) Sliema had some anxious moments in their game against Qormi, and at one time were only a point ahead, early in the third session, but when they turned on the pressure, they could move away to a better scenario. Qormi had another positive contribution to the game, even if the final score looks harsh against them.

Qormi made just the one change, as Adrian Baldacchino was missing, and his place was taken by young Sam Farrugia. Sliema fielded the same side that lost to Siggiewi. Sliema pressed their opponents straight from the start, and Qormi didn't find space, and concede several turnovers. Adrian Micallef, with his good shooting, opened up a Sliema lead, and with Kristin Baldacchino's trey, it was an 11-2 lead, stopped with a Jason Dalli free throw. Sliema took the game in habd again, and fast play rewarded them with another good 11-2 run, till the end of the quarter, establishing a strog, early lead.

Joe Galea changed his squad in the second session, and Qormi copuld move the ball better. Points werer less harder for them, and with Simon Cauchi making his second trey, they started off the session with a 7-2 run. sLiema had a reply, but Qormi were replying in turn, and their deficit did not suffer. JP Azzopardi sank a trey from some distance in the final minute, and at the interval it was a closer score, as Sliema were 30-23 in front.

After the break Azzopardi put in another trey, and this spurred them on, and they crept to just a point down, at 31-32. Michael Naudi went back on court for Sliema, and his drives extended his side's lead, despite another Qormi trey, by Wayne Grixti. Sliema pulled away at the end of the quarter, and kept their interval lead, this time on a 43-36 score.

In the final quarter, as Sliema kept using their full cort press, Qormi were guilty of several turnovers again. Duncan Cuschieri was prominent for Sliema, as they went further in front, with Qormi unable to keep up. Sliema edged away to a 57-39 score, but Qormi resisted and strove for a better score, as Slieam's bench players came back on court. This time Sliema had a good ending to the match. whilst Reuben Baldacchino converted a spate of free shots for Qormi.

Sliema Wanderers kisbu l-ewwel rebha stagjonali meta ghelbu lit-team qalbieni ta’ Qormi. Huma fethu fuq ritmu gholi u fnew l-isforzi ta’ l-avversarji tant li ghalqu l-ewwel perjodu 22-6 minn fuq.
Il-Qriema tjiebu sew fiz-zewg perjodi ta’ wara ghalkemm beda hidher ukoll li l-coach ta’ Sliema, Joe Galea, beda jdawwar il-players stabbiliti tieghu fuq il-court.
Kienu Adrian Micallef u Kristin Baldacchino li bejniethom qasmu 13-il punt ghar-rebbieha fl-ewwel ghaxar minuti waqt li Omar Said u Silvio Cassar ippotjaw erba’ punti rispettivament.
Qormi rabbew il-kuragg fil-ftuhn tat-tieni perjodu meta kisbu break ta’ 7-0 inkluz 3-pointer minn Simon Cauchi u baskets ta’ Jason Dalli u Antonello Xuereb.
Il-magna tal-punti ta’ Sliema waqfet kemmxejn f’dan il-hin u lejn tmiem it-taqsima l-Qriema komplew jersqu vicin meta Roberto Formosa u Jean Paul Azzopardi ghenuhom jidhlu jistriehu seba’ punti minn taht, 23-30.
Id-distakk kompla jonqos sew tant li fl-ewwel mumenti tat-tieni taqsima kien hemm, momentarjament, puntbiss jifred liz-zewg nahat, 32-31 wara li Qormi kellhom azzjoni ta’ tliet punti minn Wayne Grixti u basket minn Grech.
Id-dhul mill-gdid ta’ Michael Naudi tat spinta lil Sliema u punti minn tieghu regghu bdew jaqtghu lill-Wanderers il-boghod mill-avversarji u kmieni fl-ahhar perjodu l-iskor kien 55-37.
Ma tantx kien fadal storja u z-zewg nahat qasmu l-loghob sal-horn finali fejn ghal Sliema kienu l-aktar precizi Naudi, Said kif ukoll Duncan Cuschieri waqt li Qormi kellhom aktar punti minn Formosa u erba’ freethrows wara xulxin minn Rueben Baldacchino.

QORMI: 6 W. Grixti, 3 A. Grech, K. Scicluna, 7 N. Xuereb, A. Camilleri, 10 JP Azzopardi, 11 R. Formosa, 2 J. Dalli, 4 R. Baldacchino, C. Bugeja, 8 S. cauchi, S. Farrugia

SLIEMA: 14 M. Naudi, J. Zammit, C. Calleja, 2 E. Bezzina, J. Galea, 2 T. Riolo, 17 O. Said, 10 A. Micallef, 6 D. Cuschieri, 11 K. Baldacchino, 4 S. Cassar, 4 J. Gatt

REFEREES: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara