Sports
San Giljan win BOV Water Polo Premier Division Knockout Competition for 16th time
San Giljan 16
Neptunes 10
(7-1, 2-2, 5-4, 2-3)
San Giljan clinched their fifth BOV Water Polo Knockout title in the past six years – the 16th time in the club’s history – after overcoming arch-rivals Neptunes 16-10 in the final. The Saints, in front of an enthusiastic crowd of jubilant supporters, were superior from the start and delivered a commanding performance, showcasing their attacking firepower and defensive resilience, while Neptunes could not find a solution to break San Giljan’s strength, sealing yet another chapter of dominance in the competition.
They opened a 7-1 lead in the first session, an advantage that they held on to for the rest of the game, with Neptunes unable to bridge the gap.
The Saints pushed harder to establish a 9-1 gap at the start of the second session, and it was clear there and then that Neptunes had already thrown in the towel.
San Giljan continued to respond to Neptunes’ goals to retain the healthy advantage they had, and, in spite of missing two penalties, their victory was never in doubt.
Younger was instrumental in the saints victory, scoring three goals and setting up others. Matthew Zammit, Daniel Tully, Jake Bonavia, Nikolai Zammit and Darren Zammit also scored two goals each, with Russell Caruana, Ben Plumpton and Jeremy Abela netting the others.
Neptunes goals were scored by Jordan Camilleri (3), Stevie Camilleri and Gergo Zalanki and Sam Gialanze (two each) and Alec Fenech.
The two sides will meet again for the league final, with the team winning two of three games scheduled later this month to be crowned champions.
The BOV Water Polo Premier Division Knockout Trophy was presented in a celebratory ceremony held poolside at the National Pool in Tal-Qroqq. Bank of Valletta’s Chief Operations Officer, Ernest Agius, together with ASA President Karl Izzo, handed over the prestigious silverware to the San Giljan’s Captain Matthew Zammit. The moment was met with jubilant cheers from fans as the team lifted the trophy high, marking yet another milestone in their storied legacy.
This year’s knockout competition holds special significance as the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta celebrates its 100th anniversary. Bank of Valletta is proud to stand alongside the ASA in marking this historic milestone, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to the development of aquatic sports in Malta. Through continued sponsorship and collaboration, BOV remains dedicated to nurturing local talent and promoting excellence in water polo and swimming across generations.