Hibernians 69 Cynergi Depiro 68
(16-18, 24-7, 17-21, 12-22)
Hibernians have put their Super Cup defeat behind them, but it was touch and go at the end, against Depiro. A storming second session had Hibs drawing gracefully away from their adversaries, but Depiro grimly came back. In the last session they finally tied the score, only to lose out at the end.
Hibs were without Stefan Vella, who seems to have cut all ties with the Paolites. Depiro kept faith in their two foreign players, with Dominic Scafidi renouncing his American passport to an Italian one. Their American, Lene Duckinson couldn't make it, due to technicalities.
A good start had the Paolites ahead, at 7-2. Depiro hit back, and forged ahead, after a Scafidi triple. They increased their lead, with Kurt Xuereb sinking a trey, with Hibs coming up with a late Roderick Vella triple. In the next session Hibs were all over their opponents, as they registered a heavy 24-0 run, with Luke Farrugia, Alvaro Lizaur and Simon Attard treys. Depiro stuttered into life, making up a late 7-0 run, as Andrew Aquilina nailed a last second triple. At the interval the Paolites were 40-25 in front.
After the break the play was more shared. Hibs had Vella making two more treys, along with another from Farrugia. Depiro again ended the session well, with a 10-2 run, as David Bugeja put in a brace of quick triples, for an adverse 46-57 score. The last period had Depiro making a strong spurt, gnawing away at their deficit. Tweo Scafidi triples, with a further one from Xuereb, had them on an even score, late in the amtch, but Hibs managed to eke out another advantage. In the last seconds Aquilina ran away for Depiro but went for a lay up, instead of trying his luck, with a trey, to save the match. His hoops only brought Depiro a point behind, to lose the match.
Hibs: R. Vella 16, P. Attard, K. Caruana, L. Farrugia 13, S. Attard 4, I. Bonett, A. Axiaq 3, M. Matijevic 9, C. Patus 6, F. Mariani 6, A. Lizaur 12
Depiro: E. Briffa, D. Bugeja 25, M. Agius, A. Aquilina 8, N. Grech, A. Attard, M. Mallia 2, A. Quiros 6, K. Xuereb 16, M. Borg, D. Scafidi 11
Referees: E. Mangani, I. Simic, Z. Dobrosavljevic:
Luxol finally wear Starlites out
Starlites GIG 62 Bupa Luxol 81
(17-26, 25-14, 10-19, 10-22)
The champions kept up their momentum, after winning the Super Cup, the weekend before. After some heavy Starlites pressure, Luxol finally wore down their opponents, to end the match on a comfortable score. Starlites paraded new players, three from Floriana, Shawn Pace, Sean Borg and Nikola Andrejevic, along with Julian Wait, from Athleta. They also had new American, Mitchell Brewe, who fell foul halfway through the last period, going out on fouls. Luxol had a reduced bench, with Marco Mercieca and Dirk Schembri abroad, and CJ Cordina work tied.
A balanced start had Starlites holding a lead, with Brewe and Robert Bonnici treys. The champions answered back solidly, with a 15-0 run, as Keith Dimech sank a triple, and Kyle Meyer and William Ahlberg putting in their points. In the second session Starlites surprised their adversaries, with a 12-0 start, and a Pace triple, to overturn the score. Luxol regained their advantage, but then Starlites hit back, with another 11-2 run, as Brewe and Kurt Xuereb were to the fore. Starlites held their lead till the end of the session, despite Meyer' late hoops. At the interval Starlites led, at 42-40.
After the break came Starlites' demise. They couldn't keep up with Luxol's pace. Ahlberg and Keith Dimech points, with Meyer's constant forays, along with a trey, subdued their opponents. Starlites fell behind, and the score was 57-70 against them. In the last period Luxol continued to put more distance between the two sides, as Meyer and Dimech found their mark. Dimech sank two more triples, with one from JP Schembri. Ryan carabott managed a trey for Starlites, but they were well behind at the end, with the champions cruising home.
Starlites: S. Pace 9, M. Azzopardi, R. Bonnici 8, A. SChembri, S. Borg 2, M. Falzon, A. Felice Pace 6, R. Carabott 9, O. Psaila, N. Andrejevic 3, J. Wait 2, M. Brewe 23
Luxol: M. Sjoberg, N. Vasovic 4, J. Maistre Melillo, JP Schembri 3, K. Dimech 21, W. Ahlberg 17, K. Meyer 36, S. Cappello
Referees: B. Vassallo, G. Barbara, T. Mantere