Neptunes began the summer water polo season with a major statement as they defeated San Ġiljan 15-9 to win the President’s Cup, delivering a commanding performance built on sharp finishing, defensive discipline and an outstanding display from Steve Camilleri.
The final carried extra intrigue because of Jake Muscat’s return to the local game after a year away, this time wearing the San Ġiljan cap against his former club. However, Neptunes showed there is life after Muscat, producing a mature and ruthless performance that gave them the first honour of the season.
San Ġiljan made the brighter start and took advantage of the first man-up situation of the match, with Darren Zammit finding the net to put them 1-0 ahead. Neptunes responded immediately through Jake Bajada before new foreign signing Marco Zuvela turned the score in the Reds’ favour.
Matthew Zammit brought San Ġiljan level with another clinical finish in extra-man play, but Neptunes continued to look dangerous going forward. Sam Gialanze restored their lead before Alec Fenech beat the buzzer to bring San Ġiljan back on level terms.
The turning point came when Neptunes started to tighten at the back and punish San Ġiljan’s mistakes. Bajada made it 4-3 before Steve Camilleri converted a penalty and then struck again, giving Neptunes a 6-3 advantage and shifting the momentum firmly towards the Reds.
San Ġiljan struggled to find their rhythm in man-up situations, while Neptunes grew in confidence with every attack. Camilleri completed his hat-trick, Mark Castillo added another, and Muscat eventually got on the scoresheet against his former side, but by then Neptunes had already imposed themselves on the contest.
Luigi Mallia then produced one of the standout moments of the final, scoring with a superb diagonal effort that bounced off the water and into the net. He added another soon after as Neptunes continued to stretch their lead, while Russell Caruana tried to keep San Ġiljan in touch.
Jordan Camilleri added Neptunes’ 11th goal before the teams changed ends, with Caruana reducing the deficit from another man-up situation to leave the Reds firmly in control at 11-6.
San Ġiljan attempted to react after the break, but Neptunes remained compact and organised defensively. Gialanze extended the lead with a clever lob over Jake Tanti, before Steve Camilleri rose strongly out of the water to fire another powerful effort past the San Ġiljan goalkeeper.
Camilleri continued to dominate in the final session, making it 14-6 early in the fourth quarter. Alec Fenech pulled one back for San Ġiljan, but Camilleri again replied for Neptunes, completing a memorable six-goal performance in a final where he was the clear difference-maker.
Matthew Castillo also had his moment late on, producing a fine save to deny Muscat in a one-on-one situation. Luigi Dimech then completed the scoring as Neptunes sealed a deserved 15-9 victory.
For San Ġiljan, the defeat will raise early questions, especially after a final in which they struggled to match Neptunes’ intensity once the Reds took control. For Muscat, it was a quiet return to the local game on a night that belonged to his former club.
For Neptunes, this was the perfect start. The Reds lifted the President’s Cup with authority, showing depth, balance and the kind of attacking quality that could make them a serious force throughout the summer season.
