Independence Cup - Men

The third, and last day, saw the semi-final matches and final of both categories.

The Men's sector began with the Bupa Luxol v Floriana MCP Car Parks encounter. Luxol were too good for the Greens and emerged comfortable winners. In the other match it was Gzira Athleta who subdued Depiro, to take their place in the final.

Athleta had already won four times, in the six editions played, and were beaten finalists once. Luxol were in their second final, after losing out in 2014.

The final saw the Violets engraving their names, for the first time, on the winning Shield.They were in control, in the latter part of the opening period, and consolidated their advantage for the rest of the encounter, with Serbian, Vukassin Jandric, dominating the final, netting 25 points, and Sam Deguara, a constant headache with his height, grabbing b16 points. Deguara will be leaving on Monday, for another adventure in Asia, after his stint in Thailand, last season. American, Vincent Pace, with possibly a Maltese parentage, was Athleta's top scorer, with 18 points.

After the match there were medal presentations to both teams, by the Hon. Robert Arrigo, vice leader of the Opposition, for party affairs, and the Hon. Ryan Callus, spokesman for Sport. Luxol skipper, the Swede, William Ahlberg, received the winning Shield.

 

Independence Cup - Men - S/F 1

Bupa Luxol     89     Floriana MCP Car Parks     45

(48-19, 41-26)

Luxol: V. Jandric 26, JP Schembri 8, W. Ahlberg 15, S. Deguara 13, F. Sekulic 25, 2 S. Cappello

Floriana: S. Pace 8, D. Bugeja, T. Grech, S. Borg, K. Caruana, K. Liivamagi 14, C. Calleja 2, K. Xuereb 7, G. Hulsen 10, D. Agius 4

Referees: B. Sly, I. Simic, K. Dworniczak

 

Independence Cup - Men - S/F 2

Gzira Athleta     64     Depiro     46

(28-18, 36-28)

Athleta: S. Vincic 2, F. Mifsud Bonnic 1, J. Wait, P. Shoults, M. Gauci Montaldo, A. Perunicic, N. Xuereb 8, M. Gouder 14, E. Khalid, V. Pace 19, I. Mitrovic 13, C. Shanks 7

Depiro: J. Attard, D. Farrugia 3, A. Attard, N. Grech 5, O. Said 5, K. Hamilton 12, A. Chomo, E. Briffa, M. Borg, T. Steen 21

Referees: I. Simic, K. Dworniczak, C. Xuereb

 

Independence Cup - Men - Final

Bupa Luxol     62     Gzira Athleta     46

(32-26, 30-20)

Luxol: V. Jandric 25,  M. Mercieca, J. Maistre, JP Schembri 3, W. Ahlberg 4, S. Deguara 16, F. Sekulic 16, S. Cappello 2

Athleta: S. Vincic, F. Mifsud Bonnic, J. Wait, P. Shoults 6, M. Gauci Montaldo, A. Perunicic, N. Xuereb 6, M. Gouder 2, E. Khalid, V. Pace 18, I. Mitrovic 6, C. Shanks 8

Referees: B. Vassallo, I. Simic, K. Dworniczak

 

Independence Cup - Women

Both the women semi-finals, and the final, were played out on the third day of play. This was the sixth edition of the Pre-season Cup, named the Independence Cup for the third time.

The opening semi was between Starlites GIG and Hibernians. A close encounter had Starlites booking their first ever place in this final, after a 53-49 victory.  Hibs lost a late lead, with Starlites bagging their last 12 points of the match, in a 12-3 run.

The second semi-final saw Depiro holding off a stiff Bupa Luxol opposition, with a 47-44 score. Luxol matched their opponents throughout, and it was only three late points which gave Depiro a passage into the final. Depiro were also contesting their first ever final.

Depiro were close to their adversaries till midway through the opening session, but from then on it was Starlites keeping a good hold on the match, after opening an advantage till the interval. Depiro could never get near enough, to trouble their opponents, with Starlites able to keep their adversaries at bay till the end. Josephine Grima netted 13 points for the victors, with a sound performance, and Spaniard, Patricia, Arguello made 10 points. Depiro had Steffi De Martino back from abroad, to play in their last two games, and she finished with 16 points, whilst American, Ashley Gray, was on 11 points.

After the match came the presentation, with the Hon. Ryan Callus, spokesperson for Sport, for the Opposition. handing out the medals to both sides, with the Starlites captain, Samantha Farrugia, receiving the winning Shield for her side, for the first time.

 

Independence Cup - Women - S/F 1

Starlites GIG     53     Hibernians     49

(23-25, 30-24)

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina, K. Galea 7, S. Farrugia 2, M. Bonett 3, H. Acreman 6, M. Riolo 3, J. Grima 18, P. Arguello 11, M. Cutajar, S. Davies, C. Curmi 3

Hibs: S. Abela 15, E. Cassar 6, A. Simmons 16, K. Calleja, L. Duncan 4, J. Abela 6, K. Caruana, R. Camilleri, N. Farrugia, H. al Tumi, M. Said 2, E. Pace

Referees:B. Sly, K. Dworniczak

 

Independence Cup - Women - S/F 2

Depiro     47     Caffe Moak Luxol     44

(20-19, 27-25)

Depiro:  N. Agius , G. Mifsud 4, L. Vella, D. Agius , C. Camilleri 2, S. De Martino 18, D. Said Hollier 4, No. Agius, A. Gray 14, E. Cassar, C. Ciantar 5, N. Hili

Luxol: S. Pace 15,  B. Zammit, Ni. Vella, I. Baena Medina 7, No. Vella, M. Caruana 6, K. Portelli, A. Borg 3, A. Dilard, S. Vella, M. Darmanin 7, C. Mifsud

Referees:S. Micallef, C. Xuereb

 

Independence Cup - Women - Final

Starlites GIG     46     Depiro     38

(24-13, 22-25)

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 2, K. Galea 7, S. Farrugia, M. Bonett 7, H. Acreman, M. Riolo 2, J. Grima 13, P. Arguello 10, M. Cutajar 3, S. Davies 2,C. Curmi

Depiro: N. Agius 2, G. Mifsud 9, L. Vella, D. Agius, C. Camilleri, S. DeMartino 16, D. Said Hollier, No. Agius, A. Gray 11, E. Cassar, C. Ciantar, N. Hili

Referees: B. Vassallo, S. Micallef, I. Simic