Hibernians 66 Caffe Moak Luxol 53
(19-10, 14-11, 16-18, 17-14)
The champions collected their third honour of the season, after the Super Cup and the Louis Borg Cup, and this K.O. success extends their hold on this honour, winning it for the 17th time, ahead of Luxol, with 10 wins, and other teams far behind. The Paolites also extended their winning sequence over the Violets, with six victories in seven matches, over them. Regardless of the Play Offs, Hibs will contest next season's Super Cup, with this victory. Hibs have already advanced straight into the Play Off final, and await the Starlites-Luxol clashes, in the semis, to know their direct opponents. Luxol had Paula Ellul back in the side, and included Lara Caruana Montaldo. Hibs went straight in the lead, and only lost it once, soon after. Then they led for the remainder of the encounter.
Sam Brincat sank an early Paolite trey, and Sophie Abela further points, in an 8-2 start, with Luxol reacting well, with an 8-0 run of their own, and a Monique Caruana triple, to overturn the score. Hibs regained their advantage, and made up a session ending 11-0 run, to stride ahead of their adversaries. In the second session Luxol matched their opponents at first, and Sarah pace nailed a trey, but Elena Cassar netted hers at the other end. The Paolites kept a tight hold on American, Alexis Dillard, and they managed to end the first part of the match, on a 33-21 advantage, going into the interval.
After the break Luxol pushed hard, and Dillard free throws brought them closer, only for Brincat to hit another Hibs triple. The Violets still came back, with an ellul trey, as they went close, but Hannah Al Tumi made two close range buckets. Luxol were adamant, and a 7-2 run, with a Kay Portelli triple, brought them closer still, but Emma Micallef came off the bench, for the champions, as she netted a trey, and added further free shots, to take her side to a better 49-39 advantage, after three sessions of play. In the last period Portelli sank another luxol triple, with Hibs evading further danger, as they edged ahed some more. Luxol lost Dillard on fouls, and their work became harder. They managed to gnaw away some of their deficit, and Pace put in another trey, but when they tried to get closer still, there was American, Amelia Simmons, the game's top scorer, to make her free shots, and steer the Paolites into a winning position, for the last part of the match.
At the game's end the MBA president, Paul Sultana, presented the Paolites' skipper, Elena Cassar, with the K.O. trophy, as the Hibs side celebrated their triple crown, which could be further enhanced, seeing that they will contest the league championship final, in the coming days.
Hibs: E. Micallef 8, E. Cassar 3, K. Calleja, S. Brincat 10, I. Agius 4, J. Abela, S. Abela 7, A. Simmons 20, N. Farrugia, H. Al Tumi 10, K. Caruana, L. Duncan 4
Luxol: S. Pace 15, L. Caruana Montaldo, Ni. Vella, I. Baena 2, No. Vella, S. Vella 6, K. Portelli 8, A. Borg, P. Ellul 3, M. Caruana 3, C. Mifsud 2, A. Dillard 14
Referees: C. Xuereb, D. Torok, I. Simic