Hibernians 84 Starlites GIG 70
(22-18, 20-24, 23-15,19-13)
The two sides were meeting each other for the first time, this season. Hibs had to suffer Starlites' insistence throughout the whole match, but they managed to open up an advantage after the break, which they improved on in the last period, allowing them to end the game on a comfortable note. The Paolites were without Simon Attard and Fabrizio Mariani, but Kieron Caruana was back, after some matches, also getting some court time in the process. Starlites had Robert Bonnici and Mirko Azzopardi back, but Isaac Pace was missing.
The Paolites opened up with a useful 9-2 advantage, as Chad Patus began with a triple. Shawn pace also netted a trey, for Starlites, but Luke Farrugia and Alvaro Lizaur did the same, at the other end. Starlites reduced their deficit, with Patus sinking another Hibs trey. Mitchell Brewe and Pace nailed two more Starlites triples, with Hibs ending the session on another Farrugia trey. The second period had Starlites moving forward, and a heavy 14-2 run with another Brewe triple, took them decisively in front. Hibs rolled up their sleeves, to make up a solid 13-2 run, with Marco Matijevic and Lizaur points. Patus netted another Hibs trey, but Starlites ended the session on a good note, as a third Pace triple and Alec Felice Pace points, and tying the match, on a 42-47 score, at the interval.
After the break Both sides were answering to each other's points, with the Paolites having Patus making another trey. A 9-0 run mainly from Lizaur, as he and Roderick Vella sank triples, put more daylight between the two teams. Hibs made more free shots, but Starlites had Pace with yet another triple, as his side were back, on a 57-65 deficit. In the last quarter the Paolites definitely were ahead, following an 8-0 run, and a trey, all from Patus. Depiro 's points still left them at a distance, even though Felice Pace and Pace sank more triples, as Hibs' advantage was a winning one.
Hibs: R. Vella 8, P. Attard, K. Sultana , L. Farrugia 11, I. Bonett , K. Caruana, A. Axiaq 4, M. Matijevic 9, A. Lizaur 24, C. Patus 28
Starlites: S. Pace 15, M. Azzopardi, R. Bonnici 6, A. Schembri, S. Borg, A. Felice Pace 12, R. Carabott 10, O. Psaila, N. Andrejevic, J. Wait, M. Brewe 27
Referees: E. Mangani, Z. Dobrosavljevic, I, Simic
Cynergi Depiro 71 Gzira Athleta 75
(22-23, 18-20, 14-20, 17-12)
Although missing Michael Naudi's leadership, Athleta garnered their third league win in a row, to top the standings. They tried to open up a worthwhile lead, but Depiro always found means to drag themselves back, making the match quite a close one, till the end. This was Athleta's third victory over Depiro, having beaten them twice, in a Louis Borg Cup game, earlier on. Depiro had new signing, David Camilleri, just a spectator, but Lene Duckinson and Malcolm Mallia returned to the side. Omar Said was more to the fore, for Athleta, in Naudi's absence.
Nicholas Grech began with a trey for Depiro, with Ivan Mitrovic doing the same, for Athleta, but he injured his hand, and stayed on the bench for the rest of the encounter. Athleta were in front, as Peter Shoults netted a triple, and a 10-2 run, Billy Zammit and Shoults treys, opened up a good lead. Depiro were better, till the end of the period, as they put in a 13-5 run, with Dominic Scafidi points, and a triple. Zammit also netted another trey, for Athleta. In the second session Depiro overturned the score, as Kurt Xuereb and Andrew Aquilina made their treys. Athleta retaliated with a heavy 13-2 run, and a Said triple, and more Jon Feiler hoops. Depiro cut back on their disadvantage, till the interval, as David Bugeja pulled his side nearer, but Athleta were still ahead, on a 43-40 score.
After the break Depiro took a lead, but Shoults and Said made triples, in a 9-2 run, to regain their side's advantage. Depiro stayed close for some time, but a late 7-2 Athleta run, with a Nathan Xuereb triple, and Feiler points, gave them a better 63-54 advantage. The last period had Depiro drawing closer yet again. Said sank a third trey, as Athleta held on to their lead. When it seemed over, Depiro had Duckinson and Aquilina nailing quick triples, and Shoults only made the issue safe in the last seconds, with his free throw, for Athleta.
Depiro: D. Bugeja 21, L. Duckinson 7, A. Aquilina 12, N. Grech 3, A. Attard, M. Mallia 1, K. Xuereb 16, M. Borg, D. Scafidi 11
Athleta: B. Zammit 11, P. Shoults 10, L. Stefanovic, F. Mifsud Bonnici 7, O. Said 16, N. Xuereb 3, S. Vincic, I. Mitrovic 3, J. Feiler 25
Referees: G. Barbara, N. Azzopardi, T. Mantere