Caffe Moak Luxol     60     Starlites GIG     52

(11-15, 10-9, 18-17, 21-11)

A storming ending to match, by the Luxol lasses, gave them the spoils, against the overwhelming favourites, and unbeaten, Starlites, who saw their sole top spot now being shared with the reigning champions, Hibs. Luxol came back from an initial two league game loss, to grab back to back victories. Once more it was the presence of their American, Alexis Dillard, to give them the necessary confidence, with skipper, Sarah Pace coming on strongly, in the last session, to hand Starlites their defeat. Starlites seemed to have got it right, at the start of the last quarter, but they didn't reckon with the solid Luxol comeback, which left their opponents at a loss, as to what had happened. Luxol had two bench players missing, and Starlites opted to include Hungarian, Fanni Fabok, in lieu of Christine Curmi, whilst Adriana Lupo was still injured.

Spaniard, Ina Baena, made an early Luxol triple, with Starlites answering with a brace of hoops. Dillard's points had the Violets again in front, but Starlites took control, with an 11-2 run, and a Michela Zammit Cordina triple. Free shots cut down Luxol's deficit. In the second session Luxol tied the score, went back behind, then grabbed another advantage. Maria Bonett's points, and a triple, gave Starlites the lead once more, and they stayed in front, till the end of the period, for a small 24-21 interval advantage.

After the break Starlites saw their adversaries being bolder, and a Monique Caruana trey had Luxol nearer, then free shots took the Violets in front. Starlites replied with their 8-1 run, as Kirsty galea made a trey, and Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, put in her points. Luxol twice shortened their deficit, even though Arguello sank a Starlites trey, but Luxol were just behind, at 39-41. In the last period Starlites seemed to have found the measure of their opponents, making up an 8-0, early run, for a double figure advantage. Luxol did not wilt, and they came roaring back, as Pace's treys, two, and another from Caruana, along with more Dillard hoops, produced an amazing 21-0 run, which completely startled Starlites, leaving them stranded behind. Galea sank a very late trey, which didn't make any difference, as Luxol were already home and dry.

Luxol: S. Pace 13, M. Caruana 8, Ni. Vella, I. Baena 12, K. Portelli 2, A. Borg 3, A. Dillard 20, L. Caruana Montaldo, C. Mifsud 2

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 10, K. Galea 11, A. Micallef 2, S. Farrugia 2, M. Bonett 9, H. Acreman, M. Riolo,  J. Grima 6, P. Arguello 12, M. Cutajar, S. Davies, F. Fabok 

Referees: T. Mantere, I. Simic, N. Xuereb

 

Depiro     58     Hibernians     60

(8-9, 10-18, 17-13, 23-20)

Actually Hibs' victory put them alongside Starlites, at the top of the standings, after the result of the second match. It was the Paolites' fourth win, in five matches, over their opponents, but it was touch and go at the end. The champions were playing their first match under their new mentor, Tony Camilleri, in lieu of Simone Zammit, who was replaced, and the players were finding their feet, under their new coach. They had Sophie Abela back, from her elbow injury, and she came up with a very positive performance. There were also Depiro's American, Ashley Gray, playing her best match, so far, and Steffi DeMartino returning to her old form.

It was a slow start, as both sides were very wary of each other, and points were hard to come by. Nicole Agius put in an early Depiro trey, with the Paolites overturning the score, losing their lead, but regaining it with a late trey, by Sam Brincat. The second session had Depiro ahead, then they had to tie the score, midway through the period, only for the champions to have American, Amelia Simmons pushing them in front again. A late Hibs run was made up of Brincat and Emma Micallef triples, as the Paolites went into a 27-18 halftime advantage.

After the interval it was Depiro making the plays, and an opening 12-2 run, with a couple of DeMartino treys, turned teh score around. Hibs reacted well, making up a 9-2 run, mainly from Simmons, to hold another advantage. going up to a 40-35 score. In the last quarter Hibs were holding out well, until Depiro pushed hard, to make up an 11-2 run, with Gray and Demartino points. DeMartino sank another triple, but so did Leanne Duncan, at the other end, as Hibs were in front once more, after a 9-2 run. Gray's three point play had Depiro just a hoop away, but they saw the remaining seconds of the match guarding their zone, when they had to have possession, with the Hibs players playing five out, to play out the time.  

Depiro: No. Agius, G. Mifsud, Ni. Agius 5, D. Agius, S. DeMartino 20, D. Said Hollier, M. Scicluna, N. Hili, C. Ciantar 6, A. Mifsud, A. Gray 27

Hibs: E. Micallef 5, E. Cassar 6, K. Calleja, K. Calleja, S. Brincat 8, I. Agius, J. Abela, S. Abela 12, A. Simmons 22, N. Farrugia, H. Al Tumi, K. Caruana, L. Duncan 7 

Referees: I. Simic, N. Azzopardi, D. Torok