Starlites GIG    76    Hibernians    57

 (20-16, 9-13, 24-18, 23-10)

For three sessions there was not much to choose from, with the Paolites reacting in the long periods they were in arrears, and taking advantages of their own. , but the last session started disastrously for them, as Starlites took a winning lead, and could control the rest of the encounter, and emerge, worthy winners, thus being able to hold on to the honour they won, for the first time, last season. This was also their first honour this season, with the previous two having been won by Hib, who are also the team who have won the most Shields, 9 in all, but they have also finished as losing finalists in the last three seasons. Starlites have strengthened their side, for the rest of the season, signing up Steffi DeMartino, in their ranks, giving better stability to an already good side. On the other hand, the Paolites were unlucky to have two of their players abroad, for this encounter, Leanne Duncan and Julia Xerri, leaving them with a weaker bench.

Starlites opened up in style, running into a 10-2 advantage, with Michela Zammit Cordina starting with a triple. Hibs had Kirsty Caruana to start pulling them back, but Starlites' Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, sank two treys. The Paolites came back one more time, as Sam Brincat made her first points, and they were two buckets shy of their opponents, at the end of the period. In the next session, Hibs were getting nearer, as Marie Buhagiar came off the bench, and netted a brace of hoops. Arguello extended Starlites' lead again, but Hibs upped their play, and eked out a 7-0 run, with Buhagiar also nailing a triple. Hibs were in front, for the first time, but Starlites' skipper, Samantha Farrugia, made her only bucket of the match, to bring both sides on level points, just before the interval, for a 29-29 score.

After the break Starlites forged ahead yet again, but their five-point lead was wiped away, as the Paolites had Brincat putting in points, also with a trey, to overturn the score. Maria Bonett helped Starlites to take two more leads before Jasmine Abela sank a Hibs triple. This slight Hibs lead was also brushed aside, with Starlites suddenly dominant, with a 10-0 run, as Arguello made her third trey. Hibs pulled two hoops back, but the end of the quarter had Starlites 53-47 in front. The last session had Zammit Cordina being Hibs' nemesis, as hse made up a personal 8-0 run, with a second triple. The Paolites found themselves at a distance, and they could never make up any significant leeway. They had Brincat nailing two more treys, but Starlites had DeMartino and Mikela Riolo to make up for that, with their hoops, with the latter also making a trey. There was little time left, as both sides made their the game's last two buckets, but Starlites were way ahead for some time.

After the match came the presentation, with the MBA president, Paul Sultana, presenting Samantha Farrugia with the winning trophy, which Starlites will hold for a second year in succession.

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 18, M. Riolo 7, A. Micallef 4, S. Farrugia 2, M. Bonett 13, F. Fabok, C. Curmi , S. DeMartino 11, P. Arguello 19, M. Cutajar, S. Davies 2, A. Lupo

Hibs: I. Agius, B. Agius, A. Van Vliet 8, S. Brincat 19, E. Farrugia, J. Abela 7, K. Calleja, Y. Bonett 5, N. Farrugia, C. Camilleri , K. Caruana 10, M. Buhagiar 7 

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, D. Torok, L. Camilleri