Willie Vassallo

 

Gzira Athleta            71

Depiro     58

(14-12, 21-10, 20-15, 16-21)

Athleta were fresh from their Super Cup win a week before and they followed up with this victory over Depiro. They opened up a good lead late in the second session and never looked back to post their win on a comfortable note.

Athleta had captain Leanne Duncan just a spectator on the bench. Depiro had just three changes from last season. Gaby Mifsud is now playing in Italy but her sister Tina returned to the side after missing a season's play.

They also attracted the power player Steffi Demartino as she started her second stint with the side having played with them some years back. Depiro also had the Serbian Marko Zloh as their coach as he also took the men's side under his wing.

After nearly half a session with no score registered, Beverlee Zammit netted an Athleta trey. Her side kept their advantage till the end of the period but Depiro were not that far behind as Nicole Agius sank a brace of triples.

In the second session, Athleta withstood Depiro's pressure as Amelia Simmons again collected a host of points as in the Super Cup match. She also netted a triple. Agius replied for Depiro but her side was falling further behind and an Athleta 11-2 run ended the period. At the half way mark, Athleta had built up a solid 35-22 advantage.

After the break, Depiro went more into the picture and skimmed off a few points from their deficit. This didn't worry Athleta as they had Sharon Vella and Antoinette Borg making hoops the latter also nailing two triples to give Athleta a steady 55-37 lead.

In the last session, the game became more balanced but Athleta's lead was still in evidence. Tina Mifsud put in a Depiro trey and later on it was Denise Said Hollier making her triple for Athleta. The game was won and lost from earlier on. So it was Athleta who cantered home.

Athleta:  B. Zammit4 , M. Pollacco, S. Pisani, A. Simmons 36, D. Said Hollier 9, A. Borg 8, J. Schembri 6, S. Vella 8, E. Pace, C. Mifsud

Depiro: A. Mifsud, T. Mifsud 3, L. Vella, C. Camilleri, M. Bonett 7, S. DeMartino 12, N. Agius 16, No. Agius, J. Xuereb 10, M. Micallef, C. Cainter 10

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, J. Mangani, I. Marjanovic

 

Hibs overcome deficit to claim victory

Hibernians               54

Starlites GIG            47

(15-18, 7-12, 15-11, 17-6)

The last session finally gave the verdict to the Paolites. They had a heavy deficit to make up but they stuck to their task and Starlites fell away in the last period to lose out feebly after showing signs of promise earlier on in the match.

Hibs had young Kaya Calleja from Luxol and introduced their American Rachel Kehoe who started slowly but got into the scheme of things to finish the match on a positive note.

Starlites' Joey Grima went back playing abroad and they roped in the Welsh girl Hayley Acreman from Depiro and Marilou Cutajar returned to the game after a few missing seasons. They held on to their Spanish foreigner Patricia Arguello.

Starlites had Kristy Galea making an early trey but the Paolites replied with a good 12-2 run. Jean Doughty made another triple for Starlites. Elena Cassar went on making points for Hibs but Starlites had the better ending to the period making up a late 9-0 run as Arguello sank her trey for a small advantage.

In the second session, Starlites kept up their good work and handed out another 8-0 run ending with another Arguello trey. Hibs finally hit back but they could only pull back a few points as Doughty netted a second triple for Starlites to hold a 30-22 advantage at the interval.

After the break, the Paolites began their way back. Emma Micallef with a trey and more Cassar points had them making an initial 9-2 run.

They were hot on Starlites' heels but a 7-2 run took Starlites away once more. Hibs closed down to a four point deficit till the end of the period on 37-41 score.

Starlites simply fell away in the last session. Hibs ran rings round them with a long 15-0 run to claim victory. There was still time but Starlites' late spurt left them short and the Paolites took home the spoils.

Hibs: E. Micallef 5, E. Cassar 13, I. Agius 6, J, Abela 2, K. Portanier Mifsud, K. Calleja, N. Vella 2, K. Caruana 2, N. Farrugia, R. Kehoe 15, B. Agius, J. Scerri 9

Starlites: D. Agius 4, K. Galea 4, J. Doughty 6, S. Farrugia 5, H. Acreman, K. Pirotta 2, J. Micallef 2, E. Magrin 2, P. Arguello 15, M. Cutajar 2, S. Davis 2, A. Lupo 3

Referees: B. Vassallo, S. Micallef, J. Cole