Hibernians     55     Starlites GIG     69

Agg. 119-124

(11-19, 19-14, 13-19, 12-17)

Hibs' nine-point first game advantage was already in jeopardy from the opening session, as Starlites wasted little time to make up the difference. They went ahead on aggregate before the interval but suffered the Paolites' reaction, which had them in front, on aggregate, once more. Starlites were back in contention, after the break, and the last session proved decisive, as Hibs fell behind, and unable to bridge the gap, as Starlites held out with their handful of points advantage, to make the final, and oust the Paolites from another competition, as they did in the K.O. Hibs didn't repeat their first game performance, with Starlites having Steffi DeMartino in optimum condition, to drive home her side's intentions. In reality, Hibs have now only the league campaign to concentrate on, whilst Starlites still remain active on three fronts.

The Paolites kept their aggregate lead constant till midway through the opening period, until Starlites made a late push, with an 11-2 run, which took them to a single point aggregate deficit. Starlites' Michela Zammit Cordina, fresh on a Player of the Month award, and DeMartino sinking triples, to help the cause. In the next session, Starlites drove home their command on the match, as DeMartino nailed a second trey. Hibs managed to annul their new aggregate deficit, with a session ending 13-0 run, their best throughout the whole match. They were again in front, on aggregate, although 30-33 behind, halfway through the match.

Starlites saw Sam Brincat open the third quarter with a brace of triples, for the Paolites, but managed to get past this difficult phase. DeMartino netted another triple, and added more hoops, as her side obtained the necessary advantage to tie the series on aggregate when they went 52-43 ahead. The last period had Starlites pushing their opponents to the back seat, as they increased their lead. Hibs momentarily tied the aggregate score again, but when DeMartino and Christine Curmi netted treys for Starlites, a gap opened up between the two sides. Hibs couldn't find an answer, and Starlites could stay in control till the end, denying their opponents any chance of forcing themselves back in the match, as they stayed just out of reach, to progress to the final.

Hibs: B. Agius, A. Simmons 12, A. Van Vliet 12, S. Brincat 13,  L. Duncan 6, J. Abela12, C. Camilleri, Y. Bonett, N. Farrugia, K. Calleja, K. Caruana, M. Buhagiar 2

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 8, M. Riolo 4, A. Micallef 4, S. Farrugia , M. Bonett 5, S. DeMartino 28,  C. Curmi 11, P. Arguello 8, M. Cutajar , A. Lupo

Referees: G. Barbara, S. Jafilika, N. Xuereb

 

Luxol     71     Arms Depiro     67

Agg. 136-149

(18-12, 24-14, 7-16, 22-25)

Luxol had a mammoth task ahead of them, with a large deficit to make up. They went on their job, and did just that, just after the interval. But they had Depiro's American to contend with, and Hannah Johnson emulated her first game performance, to end up with a high tally of points, and steer her side into the final. Luxol could have made it, without Johnson's presence, but they fell behind once more, and although they finished up as the game's winners, the final score was not enough, as the first game's result was decisive, and helped Depiro to finish up as aggregate winners. Noelene Vella, usually a bench player for the Violets, had a sterling performance, and Luxol's last session triples fell short on deciding the outcome, with Depiro ending the match on a double-digit aggregate victory.

Depiro saw their adversaries coming on strongly, soon after the start of the game. Depiro did manage to tie the game score, but Luxol finished the session on a top note, with their free throws, to slice away a part of their deficit. The second period had Luxol on three buckets spread, but Depiro reacted well to get within their opponents' score. Luxol fought back, as Beverlee Zammit nailed a couple of triples, in a good 13-2 run, till the end of the session, as Luxol went to within just a point aggregate difference, at the interval, on a favourable 42-26 score.

Soon after the restart of the match, Luxol had wiped out all of their first game large deficit, but Johnson was having none of it, as she continued to pour in her points. Depiro were back nearer on points, and Luxol had to start all over again. Late treys, from Depiro's Denise Said Hollier and Luxol's Sarah Pace, had the Violets leading 49-42, going into the last quarter. Johnson's early points found a Luxol reply, as Monique Caruana netted a brace of treys, and Luxol were pressing again. Two more pace triples had the Violets just a nap hand of points away. on aggregate, but Johnson just couldn't be stopped, and she opened up Depiro's two game scores once again. There wasn't enough time for Luxol to make any impression on the final score. They did win this second match, but were short on aggregate points, allowing Depiro to move on to the final, as they did, at Luxol's expense, in the K.O.

Luxol:  S. Pace 20, M. Caruana 7, Ni. Vella 6, I, Baena , N. Vella 15, S. Vella 14, K. Portelli , A. Borg 1, J. Schembri , C. Sollami 2, L. Caruana Montaldo, B. Zammit 6

Depiro: No. Agius, N. Borg, N. Agius 4, C. Fenech, D. Said Hollier 5, M. Scicluna 2, C. Ciantar 12, N. Ebejer, H. Johnson 44

Referees: K. Dworniczak, I. Simic, S. Jafilika