Starlites GIG 82 Arms Depiro 50
(20-12, 12-7, 29-12, 21-19)
Starlites went ahead, after an initial Depiro flurry, and stayed there for the remainder of the match. They increased their lead as time passed, and finished up as comfortable victors, winning their second K.O. honour, after a distant one, in 1999, under the Naxxar label. It was also their second honour of the season, after the Shield success, and after losing out to Hibs, in the Super Cup. This win over Depiro was their fifth over them, this season, in as many matches. Nicole Agius being abroad did not help Depiro's cause, but Starlites kept a watchful eye on Depiro's American, Hannah Johnson, and her final tally only increased further in the last session, when the match was already won and lost.
Depiro nosed ahead at the start, with Starlites overturning the score twice, with Maria Bonett and Michela Zammit Cordina triples. Depiro tied the score twice, and when the Spaniard, Patricia Arguello, had Starlites again in front, it was Claire Ciantar to take Depiro to a point behind. In the remaining time Starlites came up with a 7-0 run, and an Arguello triple, to open up their advantage. In teh next period the points became scarcer. Depiro reduced their deficit, but Starlites took time to make up another 8-2 run, with Christine Curmi points. Two more late buckets took Starlites to a better 32-19 score, at the interval.
After the break the points picked up, once more. Starlites resisted an early Depiro push, and their double figure advantage increased, after a 10-2 run. Depiro were falling further behind, till the end of the session, as Starlites managed another 13-2 run, which practically made sure of the result, with a 61-31 score. The last quarter was a little bit more open, with the result in no doubt. Zammit Cordina punished her Depiro opponents with fast breaks and another triple, and Samantha Farrugia helped out with a brace of hoops. Johnson began finding the opposing ring more often, ending up as the game's top scorer, pipping Zammit Cordina, and making Depiro's score more respectable, with Starlites so far in front.
After the match came the presentations. The MVP award went to Starlites' Michela Zammit Cordina, and after the winning side were handed out their medals, skipper, Samantha Farrugia lifted up the winning trophy, given to her by Mapfre MSV Life's Chief Development Officer, Michael Galea, with a helping hand from the MBA president, Paul Sultana.
Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 22, M. Riolo 4, A. Micallef 6, S. Farrugia 4, M. Bonett 11, C. Curmi 4, S. DeMartino 9, P. Arguello 16, M. Cutajar 2, S. Davis 2, A. Lupo 2
Depiro: J. Mallia, N. Borg, C. Camilleri, F. Mifsud, N. Ebejer, D. Said Hollier, M. Scicluna 1, C. Ciantar 13, J. Xerri 9, N. Hili 4, H. Johnson 23, E. Cassar
Referees: B. Vassallo, V. Niko9lic, S. Tafilica