Depiro     73     Caffe Moak Luxol     68

after overtime

(18-13, 13-19, 20-11, 13-21) - (9-4)

Luxol seemed to have found their form again, but two back to back defeats have brought them to a precarious position, with danger looming, of missing out on a play off place. They ended their second round of play, but could even fall into the bottom placing, if the teams directly above them win their next match. Luxol recovered Martina Darmanin for this encounter. Depiro were under the care of Adrian Mifsud, before a new coach arrives.

Luxol's opening five were different from previous matches, and Depiro ran off to an early 10-1 advantage, as Steffi de Martino and Nicole Agius sank triples. De Martino went on to roast the Luxol defence, hauling in a substantial tally of points. Luxol replied with a Kay Portelli triple, but Depiro were still in front, as De Martino and Alexis Lloyd made more hoops.

In the second period Depiro increased their lead at first, but the champions answered back, and Sarah Pace, twice, and Cristina Sollami netted treys, in an 11-4 run, to tie the score. De Martino pushed Depiro ahead once more, also with a triple, but the champions had a good ending to the session, with an 8-2 run, to nip in front, at the interval, on a 32-31 score.

After the break Depiro were taking command of the match. They began with a 10-2 run and another Agius trey Luxol were struggling, and another 10-3 run, with more De Martino and Agius treys, opened up a solid advantage. Luxol pulled points back but were still 43-51 in arrears.

In the last session the champions were drawing nearer. Cristina Grima and Pace netted triples, with DeMartino also making another trey, at the other end. Luxol then fell behind, to a Depiro 8-0 run, but in the short time left, they conjured up a 10-0 run, as Grima netted a second trey, and Pace nailed a last gasp triple, after two more failed Luxol attempts. It was enough to force overtime, on a 64-64 tie.

Freethrows opened another Depiro advantage, but Luxol were abreast again, as Portelli sank a Luxol triple, but Pace had to limp off the court, and Luxol lost their stalwart. More free shots, and a late Claire Ciantar hoop handed victory to Depiro. 

Depiro: M. Scicluna, T. Mifsud, C. Camilleri, M. Bonett 12, S. DeMartino 36, N. Agius 11, No. Agius, A. Lloyd 10, J. Xuereb, C. Cianta 4

Luxol: S. Pace 14, Ni. Vella ,  No. Vella , C. Grima 9, K. Portelli 6, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Brown 17,  C. Sollami 12, M. Darmanin 2, C. Curmi 8   

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, I. Simic, M. Rajczi

Hibs now top the standings

Gzira Athleta     53     Hibernians     58

(13-9, 15-18, 3-14, 22-17)

Athleta didn't follow up on their win over Luxol, and the Paolites' victory has shot them in front of the other sides. Athleta were ahead till the interval, but when Hibs went in front, they stayed there till the end. The only notable absentee was Hibs' Sam Brincat, who was abroad, with bench players having more game time, in their win.

Hibs started with a different formation, and Athleta went 10-2 ahead, Antoinette Borg and Leanne Duncan sank triples. The Paolites reacted with a 7-2 run, and a jasmine Abela trey, but Denise said Hollier made her triple, to keep Athleta in the lead. In the next period Abela netted a second Hibs triple, but Beverlee Zammit began her triples haul, for Athleta. Rachel Kehoe took the Paolites to just a point behind, with Athleta reacting well, with a 9-2 run, mostly from Amelia Simmons. Hibs ended the period with a 7-0 run, with an Elena Cassar trey and Silvia Gambino points, but they were still 27-28 behind, at the interval.

After the break Hibs overturned the score, with more Kehoe hoops Simmons replied for Athleta, but the Paolites went on, to register a long 8-2 run, as Iona Agius nailed a triple, and Hibs were 41-31 in the lead. The last quarter had Athleta with a 9-2 run, and two more Zammit triples, to stride near to their opponents. The Paolites held on to their advantage, even when Zammit netted her fourth trey. A 9-2 run ensured Hibs' victory, as Gambino netted a triple. The last Athleta points only managed to bring them nearer, but not enough.

Athleta: B. Zammit 12, S. Pisani, L. Duncan 9, A. Simmons 17, D. Said Hollier 3, A. Borg 5, J. Schembri, S. Vella 7, E. Pace, C. Mifsud

Hibs: E. Micallef , E. Cassar 6,  S. Gambino 11, K. Calleja, I. Agius 11, J. Abela 6, S. Abela 8,  K. Caruana , N. Farrugiia , R. Kehoe 12, M. Said 4, J. Scerri

Referees:  T. Mantere, I. Simic, I. Marjanovic