Starlites GIG     76     Arms Depiro      49

 (14-17, 16-7, 28-11, 18-14)

Starlites' victory allowed to leapfrog over the current leaders, Hibs, who had to play after them. It was the fourth time that Starlites beat their adversaries, who they will meet in two future competition finals, the Mapfre MSV Life K, and the Louis Borg Cup. They had Stephanie Davis back, after missing a total of six matches. Depiro were a much-changed side from their last encounter. They had two new faces, in Julia Xerri, loaned from Hibs, and Francesca Mifsud, back playing after a layoff. They also recovered Julia Borg, Claudia Camilleri and Nicole Hili, but Shanise Farrugia was still missing.

Starlites went into an early lead, with 14-3 run, and Michela Zammit Cordina points, also with a trey. Depiro rudely stopped them, and then made up a long 14-0 run, which surprised their opponents, with American, Hannah Johnson, hoops, and Xerri free throws, to lead at the end of the opening session.  Starlites turned the tables at the start of the second period. They made up a 12-2 run, as Steffi DeMartino began her personal tally. This gave them a healthy advantage, which was slightly narrowed, as Nicole Agius sank a late Depiro trey. At the interval Starlites were on a 30-24 lead.  

After the break Starlites upped their play, and their advantage frew to better proportions. A 9-2 run began their push, as Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, netted her triple. Depiro replied with a second triple, by Agius, but Starlites surged forward, and a heavy 17-4 run, with a second Arguello triple, took them away from their adversaries, and register a commanding 58-35 score. The last quarter saw Starlites keep on increasing their lead at first. Johnson im proved her personal tally with five more hoops, for Depiro, with DeMartino also netting a trey, for Starlites, to finish up as her team's top scorer. The game then petered out, with such a handsome advantage for the winners.

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 15, M. Riolo, A. Micallef 10, S. Farrugia 8, M. Bonett 5, S. DeMartino 18, C. Curmi 2, C. Cilia, P. Arguello 12, M. Cutajar, S. Davis 2, A. Lupo 4     

Depiro: No. Agius, N. Borg 4, N. Agius 8, F. Mifsud, J. Borg 2, D. Said Hollier, M. Scicluna, J. Xerri 8, C. Camilleri, N. Hili, H. Johnson 27, E. Cassar, E. Cassar

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, V. Nikolic, S. Tafilica

 

Hibernians     79     Luxol     56

(18-19, 14-10, 30-17, 17-10)

Hibs' final goal is the league championship, as they were ousted out of two remaining competitions, by Starlites. They found resistance from the Violets, till the interval, but then their road was less strenuous, as they took control, and opened up a commanding advantage.  Luxol didn't keep up with their opponents, and fell behind, leaving them no occasion for a rally, and had to concede defeat. The Paolites had Leanne Duncan abroad, with her place taken by the young Serbian, Julija Dabic, who, however, stayed on the bench. Luxol had Paula Ellul back, and introduced their latest signing, from Latvia, Zane Neilande. They were missing four players in all, Beverlee Zammit, the Spaniard, Ina Baena, Kay Portelli and Cristina Sollami.

Naomi Farrugia netted an early Hibs triple, with the Violets twice going in front, as Monique Caruana sank a trey. HIbs were twice on equal terms, before forging ahead, with an Ashleigh Van Vliet bucket. Then it was Luxol who were twice in front, staying ahead by a mere point, after the opening session. In the next period a series of Sharon Vella free throws extended Luxol's lead, with Farrugia netting a second Hibs triple. Luxol were still in front, until a late 7-1 run had the Paolites ahead, with a Sam Brincat triple, for a slight 32-29 half time advantage.

After the break Neilande took Luxol to just a point in arrears, but Hibs reacted with a 12-2 run, as Jasmine Abela and again, Farrugia, netted triples for Hibs. Julie Schembri, just off the bench, and Sarah pace did the same, for the Violets, but Hibs' advantage grew with a 9-0 run, and another Brincat trey. Late in the session the American, Amelia Simmons, who had found her scoring touch, since joining the Paolites, also sank a triple, for a 62-46 Hibs lead. The last session had Luxol netting a quick brace of hoops but Hibs answered back, with an 11-0 run, to put their victory beyond question. There were still more points for either side, with Sharon Vella for Luxol and Van Vliet for the paolites, who regained their top league slot.

Hibs: I. Agius 2, Y. Bonett 4, A. Van Vliet 19, S. Brincat 8, J. Dabic, J. Abela 3, C. Camilleri, N. Farrugia 9, K. Calleja, K. Caruana 2, M. Buhagiar, A. Simmons 32    

Luxol: S. Pace 12, P. Ellul 3, N. Vella, No. Vella, S. Vella 14, A. Borg 6, J. Schembri 3, M. Caruana 8, L. Caruana Montaldo, Z. Neilande 10

Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, S. Tafilica, N. Xuereb