Bupa Luxol 53 Hibernians 75
(18-17, 8-19, 11-13, 16-26)
The two sides were meeting for the third time this season, with the games shared, as Luxol beat Hibs in the Super Cup, and the Paolites turned the tables in a previous Shield match. This last game had a solid advantage, as in this season's final. Luxol stayed the course till midway through the second period, when the Paolites took over, and proceeded to put distance between the two sides. Luxol couldn't get reasonably closer, and Hibs' triples continued punishing their opponents. Luxol had Dirk Schembri and CJ Cordina back in the side, after missing a number of encounters, but the way things went, the champions did not upgrade their play to suit the occasion.
Hibs were victorious in the first four editions of this honour, from 1986 to '89, and their coach. Mario Tabone is now the only person to take part in all five winning finals, this time as a mentor.
Hibs had Fabrizio Mariani with an early trey, with Luxol replying with a 10-2 run, as JP Schembri and Keith Dimech sank their triples. It was the Paolites' turn to net their treys, through Chad Patus and Simon Attard, but Luxol still managed to end the session with their noses in front. In the next period the Paolites began to show their real worth. They began with a 7-0 run, but the champions were back, to within a hoop. Hibs essayed a good 10-0 run, with Alvaro Lizaur and Patus triples, and at the interval their side was leading 36-26.
After the break it was Hibs who gradually pulling further away, as they made up an 11-2 run, with more treys, from Luke Farrugia and Attard. Luxol trimmed some points off, but they were still trailing, at 37-49, going into the last quarter. Luxol added on more points, as finally William Ahlberg found more space, but the Paolites were deadly in their long ones. Farrugia netted a second, Roserick vella complied with a quick brace, and Lizaur netted another one, besides further points, as Hibs ambled through to a comfortable victory.
After the match the St. James Hospital CEO, Maria Bugeja, presented the winning trophy to Marco Matijevic, as HIbs grabbed their first honour of the season.
Luxol: CJ Cordina, D. Schembri 10, M. Sjoberg, N. Vasovic 10, JP Schembri 5, K. Dimech 3, W. Ahlberg 12, A. Micallef Trigona, K. Meyer 13, S. Cappello
Hibs: R. Vella 11, P. Attard, L. Farrugia 6, S. Attard 6, I. Bonett, K. Caruana, A. Axiaq 6, M. Matijevic 2, A. Lizaur 17, F. Mariani 3, C. Patus 26
Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, T. Mantere
MBA Shield Men 1 Div. - Winners
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1986/87 Enemalta Paola Stars
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1987/88 Enemalta Paola Stars
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1988/89 Enemalta Paola Stars
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1989/90 Enemalta Paola Stars
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1990/91 Luxol Plasmon
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1991/92 Luxol Plasmon
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1992/93 Luxol Fitgar
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1993/94 Sliema Juv. Aperol
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1994/95 Siggiewi MidMed
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1995/96 Depiro Eden Leisure
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1996/97 Siggiewi Mid-Med
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1997/98 Pembroke Repsol
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1998/99 Pembroke Repsol
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1999/00 Luxol Fiat
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2000/01 Hamrun L. Jaxa
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2001/02 Pembroke Allcom
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2002/03 Siggiewi
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2003/04 not held
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2004/05 Bupa Luxol
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2005/06 Pembroke
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2006/07 Siggiewi Smina
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2007/08 Bupa Luxol
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2008/09 Bupa Luxol
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2009/10 Siggiewi Kent B.
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2010/11 AtoZ Elect. Athleta
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2011/12 AtoZ Elect. Athleta
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2012/13 AtoZ Elect. Athleta
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2013/14 AtoZ Elect. Atleta.
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2014/15 Virtus Cynergi
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2015/16 Falken Cynergi Virtus
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2016/17 Gzira Athleta
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2017/18 Hibernians
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