Neptunes and Sliema will renew one of Maltese water polo’s biggest rivalries on Saturday as the 2026 Malta Summer League Premier Division play-off final gets underway at the National Pool.
The two sides will contest a best-of-three series for the championship, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday evening before the teams meet again on Wednesday. A deciding third game will follow on August 29 if required. Under ASA competition rules, both teams begin the final level, with the first side to win two matches crowned champions.
Neptunes enter the series as favourites after an excellent league campaign and, perhaps more significantly, a strong record against Sliema during the summer.
Their first league meeting produced one of the games of the season. Sliema recovered from a three-goal deficit to take a 12-11 lead, only for captain Steve Camilleri to take over in the final period as Neptunes eventually won 17-15.
The Reds followed that with an 18-14 victory in their second league meeting, extending what was then a perfect eight-game start to the championship. Marko Zuvela scored five in that contest, while Camilleri added four and Ivan Nagaev two. Francesco Di Fulvio led Sliema with four.
More recently, Neptunes produced their most convincing performance against the Blues, winning 16-9 in the Knock-Out semi-final. Camilleri scored five and Nagaev four as Neptunes built an 11-4 half-time advantage.
That record gives Neptunes the psychological edge, but Sliema have already shown this season that they are capable of responding when under pressure.
The Blues had to come through a difficult semi-final series against Sirens. After Sirens’ 17-13 victory cancelled out Sliema’s advantage from finishing higher in the regular-season table, Quim Colet’s side responded in the decisive encounter with a 15-12 win to book their place in the final. Di Fulvio, Jayden Cutajar and captain Dino Zammit were again central to their attack.
Neptunes, meanwhile, secured their final place with a dramatic 14-13 victory over San Giljan, just days after losing to the same opponents in the Knock-Out final. Camilleri and Zuvela both scored four as the Reds held off a late San Giljan comeback.
The previous meetings may point towards Neptunes, but a final between these two neighbouring rivals carries its own pressure.
On Saturday night, the race for the Maltese championship begins again from zero.
Final schedule
Game 1 – Saturday, 22 August
Neptunes vs Sliema – 19:30 CEST
Game 2 – Wednesday, 26 August
Sliema vs Neptunes – 19:30 CEST
Game 3 – Saturday, 29 August
Neptunes vs Sliema – 19:30 CEST (if required)
Read more about the Maltese Summer League
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