Hibernians     86     Floriana MCP Car Parks     54

(18-15, 20-15, 20-12, 28-12)

Hibs made the opening step to march into the final, and defend the honour won last season. They also recorded their third win over their adversaries, all in league matches. Flroiana chased hard, after their opponents, from the start of the encounter, and held their pace till the interval. After the break it was a different story, as the Paolites pushed forward, to put distance between the two sides. Floriana couldn't pull themselves back, and the champions finished on a comfortable note. Hibs again included Matthew Attard, this time instead of Isaac Bonett. The Greens had to settle without David Bugeja, injured last Sunday. They had David Camilleri back in the side, although he remained on the bench.

Floriana were replying to the first Paolite baskets, through American, Ian Thiesen hoops, but Canadian, Chad Cuschieri Patus sank a brace of Hibs triples. The Paolites extended their lead, but a late Shawn Pace trey had Floriana drawing nearer. The second session had Hibs netting more triples, from Spaniard, Alvaro Lizaur, and Patus. Floriana kept hovering near, with Kurt Xuareb buckets. Hibs put Serbian, Ivan Demcesec, on court, and his stature in the paint brought them a spate of points. The Greens' answer were a trio of late triples, by Thiesen, Estonian, Kevin Liivamagi, and Xuereb, as Hibernians' advantage fell to a 38-30 score, from double figures.

After the break Floriana felt their opponents' pressure, as Hibs put in an early 10-2 run. More Italian, Luca Tardito, points, and a trey, had teh Paolites on a better lead, but the Greens managed an 8-0 run, starting with a Kieron Caruana trey. Before the end of the period Hibs came up with more points, and another Lizaur trey, for a 58-42 advantage. The last quarter had Floriana sharing the play with their opponents, but then they experienced another rough time, as the champions pieced together a heavy 20-2 run, with two more Lizaur triples, and more in between, by Cuschieri Patus and Luke Farrugia. Floriana were left still further behind, although they made late points, but Hibs had Demcesen making a rare triple, to close down their score.

The Paolites are now a game away from the final, which they will play next Sunday.

Hibs: R. Vella 6, P. Attard,  K. Sultana, L. Farrugia 5, M. Formosa, M. Attard, L. Tardito 17, A. Axiaq 11, M. Matijevic, A. Lizaur 12, I. Demcesen 19, C. Cuschieri Patus 16

Floriana: S. Pace 3, D. Camilleri , S. Borg , K. Caruana 3, K. Liivamagi 5, I. Arias 7, Ian Thiesen 15, K. Xuereb 11, G. Hulsen 10, D. Agius

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, K. Dworniczak, M. Hraisha