Hibernians    82    Gzira Athleta    87

(24-21, 10-17, 28-20, 20-29)

It was a thrilling match, which went on until the end. Both sides were locked with each other for most of the time, and the margin of difference was never bigger than five points, except for the start of the encounter. Athleta had a matchwinner in young Nathan Xuereb, who played the game of his life, and there was also Luca Stefanovic, who had now cemented his place in the side, after a long journey, to make the grade.

And Hibs? Their American, Chandler Rowe, is now showing his true worth, and they also made a fine capture, in their Swedish player, William Ahlberg, from Luxol, as they did with Nikola Vasovic. Athleta are the side who have won this honour the most, making it ten times, with this victory, for an early double, having already won the Independence Cup earlier on. Hibs had Marco Matijevic just on the bench, taking no part, as did Athleta's Peter Shoults, who was included, after his long injury, but never went on court. Their other important player, Matthew Gouder, was injured in their last encounter and is now facing a six-week layoff, with a broken rib.

Athleta burst forward from the start, as Xuereb started early for them. The Paolites pulled two hoops back, but Athleta kept their lead, as Sean Galea sank a trey, with Ahlberg replying likewise, at the other end. Rowe made his first triple, and other buckets, as Hibs tied the score on three occasions. When they went ahead, it was Stefanovic, with his free shot, to tie the score again, only for Rowe, with a late trey, to push the Paolites again in front. In the next session, Xuereb's brace of hoops overturned the score, but Hibs were once more in front. When Athleta took another advantage, there was Ahlberg, with his triple. Serbian, Milos Novakovic, came off the bench, for Athleta, to make points, and a trey, taking Athleta ahead. Hibs reacted, but Novakovic sank a second triple, and Athleta were leading 38-34, at the interval.

After the break it was Hibs with the better start, making up a 10-2 run, with Vasovic points, and a trey. Xuereb's hoops and a Stefanovic triple had Athleta back in front. Vasovic promptly nailed a brace of treys, for Hibs, but Stefanovic was confident, and his next triple tied the score. Serbian, Ivan Demcesen, had the Paolites in another advantage, and this time it was American, Connel Crossland, to take Athleta level, with his two buckets. At the end of the period up came Anton Axiaq, charging at the heart of the Athleta defence, to sink a couple of hoops, taking Hibs to a 62-58 advantage. The last quarter had Xuereb keeping Athleta just behind, with his hoops and trey. Rowe put in another Hibs triple, for a better 70-65 lead, but Athleta responded with a 7-0 run, and another Syefanovic trey. Their lead was shortlived, as Ahlberg sank a brace of triples, as the lead kept changing hands. American, Ian Thiesen, nailed an Athleta triple, and Stefanovic followed up with his fourth long one. Sixteen seconds remained, with Hibs' Ahlberg quickly netting his fifth trey, for a one point match. Athleta kept their cool, and calmly put in their free throws, to deny their opponents any chance of a recovery.

After the match, the MBA president, Paul Sultana, presented the winning trophy to the player of the match, Nathan Xuereb, as Athleta celebrated their second seasonal honour.

Hibs: W. Ahlberg 20, P. Attard , D. Bugeja 7, K. Caruana , L. Farrugia , I. Bonett, N. Vasovic 13, A. Axiaq 11, M. Matijevic , M. Attard , C. Rowe 24, I. Demcesen 7 

Athleta: C. Crossland 16, S. Pace 2, B. Zammit , E. Sciberras , P. Shoults, L. Stefanovic 13, S. Galea 3, N. Xuereb 31, M. Novakovic 16, I. Thiesen 6, E. Abela , R. Abela

Referees: B. Vassallo, Z. Dobrosavljevic, K. Dworniczak