Hibernians     86     Floriana MCP Car Parks     80

(20-21, 28-14, 15-21, 23-24)

This match permitted the victors to climb the standings and share top spot, with Starlites, at the end of the opening round of play. The champions had to sweat it out till the end, to claim their win, after a good return, from the Greens, after suffering a heavy deficit, midway through the second period. They were only a point away from their opponents, in the very late stages of the encounter, but the Paolites managed to pull away, and deny Floriana their fourth league victory in a row. Hibs will climb over Starlites, by virtue of a direct encounter. Floriana recovered two players from their last match, as Belgian, Gael Hulsen, and David Camilleri were back in the side.

It was Floriana with the first points and also a trey from Estonian, Kevic Liivamagi, with the champions answering back each time, before going ahead for the first time. The Greens regained their advantage, and kept it till the end of the session, despite a late Roderick Vella triple, for Hibs. The Paolites then forges ahead, in the next session, making up a good 15-3 run, as Canadian, Chad Cuschieri Patus, twice, and Luke Farrugia, sank triples. Floriana fell further behind, as the champions pressed, but a good ending to the period, had Floriana in a 7-0 run, and a David Bugeja trey, to reduce their deficit, at the interval, but they were still 35-48 in arrears.

After the break continued their comeback, with a David Camilleri triple, and more Bugeja points, as he played his best match this season. Hibs recovered, to post a trey, by Italian, Luca Tardito, but the Greens were back, with a four-hoop spread. Hibs' retaliation brought about a session ending 8-2 run, with a Cuschieri Patus trey, for a 63-56 advantage. 

The last quarter had Hibs slightly incre4asing their lead, as Floriana's Kieron Caruana netted a triple. The Paolites held their lead for some time, but Floriana persisted, and they crept back, to hoop behind, at 75-77. Hibs opened their advantage once again, but Floriana made a final spurt, and Caruana's second trey had them just a point away. with seconds left. Hibs kept their control, made free shots when the Greens tried to stop the clock, and the towering Serbian, Ivan Demcesen, sealed the victory with his final hoop of the match.

Hibs: R. Vella 5, P. Attard, K. Sultana, L. Farrugia 5, M. Formosa, I. Bonett, L. Tardito 16, A. Axiaq 8, M. Matijevic, A. Lizaur 4, I. Demcesen 29, C. Cuschieri Patus 19 

Floriana: S. Pace, D. Bugeja 26, D. Camilleri 3, S. Borg, K. Caruana 8, K. Liivamagi 5, I. Arias, Ian Thiessen 25, K. Xuereb 4, G. Hulsen 9, D. Agius

Referees: B. Vassallo, Z. Dobrosavljevic, D. Torok