Hibs carved out a reply to their defeat, two days before, to draw level and throw the championship issue open again. It was a nervous game which affected mostly the Depiro side, who were anxious to open a winning lead, but to no avail.

The opening session was a characterised by the woeful from both sides, as they took hurried shots. The lead changed hands three times during the period with Depiro just getting ahead at the end of the session, through Greta Zarb, fresh from the bench, on a low score.

In the second quarter the two teams began ny trading points again, which were more plentiful. Depiro stayed in front for some time as they led 12-9, but Hibs were starting to take the upper hand and Lucienne Bezzina came onto the scene, netting nine points in an 11-0 run, including a trey. Depiro recovered but the Paolites held onto their lead, and at the interval they were 29-18 in front.

After the break the champions were intent on wiping out their deficit. they took a large part of the session doing this, and they were hampered by a Lucienne Bezzina trey, but two small breaks, the last one with a Greta zarb trey, helped them to draw level. Points by Alexis Darmanin helped the Paolites to keep their noses in front, after three sessions, on a 35-34 score.

In the final session there was frenetic action at both ends. The two sides were locked with each other when Maria Desira (Depiro) were fouled out. Lucienne Bezzina once again came to the fore with her free throws and Hibs were 46-40 in front. Depiro put in a final fling and a Sarah Pace trey made it a one-point game but it was not enough and Nadia Mifsud’s free shots sealed the match, on a 1-1 series.

Hibs: 25, Lucienne Bezzina

Depiro: 11, Dorianne Galea, 10 Joselle Cardona

Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Alfred Carbonaro