Caffe Moak Luxol 72 Depiro 54
(13-22, 24-8, 18-4, 17-20)
The match was postponed, at the start of the new year, and a new date for it could only be found weeks later. It had Luxol assuring themselves of a placing in the three team Play Offs, having the better of Depiro, for the fourth league meeting between the two sides, and leaving them stranded at the bottom of the pile. They were trailing after the opening session, but recovered in the next two, to open up a winning advantage, Depiro pulled some points back, in the last quarter, but they were still at a distance from their opponents.
Depiro started well, with Claire Ciantar points, and triples by Steffi DeMartino and Gaby Mifsud, who bagged two, at the other end it was Sharon Vella getting the points for the Violets. Luxol recovered well in the next period, as they went past their adversaries, and end the session on a seven-point margin. Vella was still active, bur also had help from the American, Alexis Dillard, and Sarah Pace and Monique Caruana getting a trey each. Depiro had DeMartino once more, and Nicole Agius with triples, but it was Luxol in front, at the interval, on a 37-30 score.
After the break there was no let off for Depiro, as Luxol restricted them to just a couple of hoops. Dillard was still making the Depiro defence work hard, and Antoinette Borg put in her share, with her hoops, as their side went into a heavy 55-34 advantage, which practically sealed the match. The last session was more open, as Luxol's hold on the match began to fall away, with such an advantage for them. They could still rely on Dillard. to hike up their points, and at the other end De Martino and Ciantar enhanced their personal scores, which served their side to make up a more respectable score, seeing that Luxol were far out in front.
Luxol: S. Pace 12, L. Caruana Montaldo, Ni. Vella 4, I. Baena 5, N. Vella, S. Vella 12, K. Portelli 3, A. Borg 7, P. Ellul, M. Caruana 3, A. Dillard 26
Depiro: No. Agius, N. Agius 3, G. Mifsud 8, S. DeMartino 24, D. Said Hollier 2, M. Scicluna, N. Hili, C. Ciantar 17, A. Mifsud, E. Cassar
Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, C. Xuereb
Starlites GIG 70 Depiro 52
(17-8, 20-18, 20-11, 13-15)
Starlites stayed firmly on course for a first placing at the end of the group games, and an automatic entry into the Play Off final. They staved off Depiro's challenge, for the seventh time this season, holding off a Depiro recovery, in the second session, to open up another lead, which they could administer till the end of the game. There were two changes in the Starlites' outfit. Missing were Kristy Galea and the Welshwoman, Hayley Acreman, with the Hungarian, Fanni Fabok, back in the side. Depiro were without Nicole Hili and Emily Cassar.
Starlites began in earnest, with no-nonsense play, as they ran up an 11-2 score. They kept on, with a brace of Josephine Grima buckets, before Depiro reacted with Claire Ciantar points, to gnaw off some of their deficit. They went even nearer in the next period, and it was the Santo Domingo player, Giocelis Reynoso's points which kept Starlites ahead. Depiro had Gaby Mifsud and Steffi DeMartino with back to back triples, along with other points, which had them just a hoop away. Starlites then retaliated, with a 13-0 run, as Michela Zammit Cordina came off the bench, with her points. Depiro managed some more points till the end of the session, as Starlites held a 37-26 interval advantage.
After the break Starlites opened up with an 8-2 run, before being stopped by a Mifsud trey, but Depiro were again hit by another 2-10 run, as Starlites could go into the last session with a heavy advantage, on a 57-37 score, led by Reynoso points, some from fast breaks. Depiro pulled points back, through Ciantar and DeMartino , the latter with another trey, but Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, sank a Starlites triple, and later on there were Christine Curmi and Joey Grima with their hoops, to keep a steady lead for Starlites, in their quest for a top position. More Ciantar points had Depiro in a better score, but still behind their opponents.
Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 8, M. Riolo 2, S. Farrugia, S. Davies, M. Bonett 4, G. Reynoso 16, C. Curmi 8, J. Grima 18, P. Arguello 14, M. Cutajar, F. Fabok, A. Lupo
Depiro: No. Agius, Ni. Agius 4, G, Mifsud 13, S. DeMartino15, D. Said Hollier 2, M. Scicluna 2, C. Ciantar 16, A. Mifsud
Referees: D. Torok, V. Nikolic
Hibernians 64 Caffe Moak Luxol 60
(14-10, 20-10, 19-20, 11-20)
The Paolites had beaten their adversaries in five straight matches, including a Super Cup final, after suffering an initial defeat. They did record their sixth win, but only just, after a grand Luxol comeback, which nearly produced dividends, but it was not to be. Hibs' victory takes them back alongside Starlites, at the top of the table. The champions had a missing player, Emma Micallef. Luxol were without Beverlee Zammit and Paula Ellul.
It was Luxol with the opening two hoops of the encounter, with the champions answering back well, making up an 11-0 run, with a Sam Brincat triple. Late in the session there were a flurry of treys, with Luxol sinking two, by Antoinette Borg and Sarah Pace, and Hibs replying through Jasmine Abela. In the second period Hibs went forward with purpose, putting in a sound 14-2 run, as Abela and Brincat again netted triples. Luxol managed some late points, but the Paolites were in control, and Brincat made her third triple, as her side went into the interval, enjoying a heavy 34-20 advantage.
After the break Hibs were still intent on increasing their lead, making a 7-2 run. Spaniard, Ina Baena, netted a Luxol trey, but Brincat did the same, at the other end. Luxol had a brief surge, with a 7-0 run, and a Monique Caruana trey. Elena Cassar also made a Hibs triple, and points at either end, in a late surge, had Caruana sinking her second Luxol trey, for a 40-53 score. Leanne Duncan started the last period off with a Hibs triple, but the Violets made their free shots, to narrow the gap. All of a sudden, the Violets went on fire, as Caruana drilled in two more triples, and they were only a bucket away. Hibs managed to net two important hoops, the second from a distance, by Sophie Abela, to ward off their opponents' last forays, and hold on to their lead, in the last seconds of the match.
Hibs: S. Abela 11, E. Cassar 5, K. Calleja, S. Brincat14, I. Agius, J. Abela 6, A. Simmons 14, N. Farrugia, H. Al Tumi 5, K. Caruana 2, L. Duncan 7
Luxol: S. Pace 12, Ni. Vella, I. Baena 3, No. Vella, S. Vella 17, K. Portelli, A. Borg 3, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Caruana 12, C. Mifsud 1, A. Dillard 12
Referees: T. Mantere, Z. Dobrosavljevic, V. Nikolic