The champions started off their MBA Shield games with an emphatic win over a Loyola side, who showed promise, but then found the going tough, and were dominated by a methodical side, in this first Group B match.

Hibs took a little time to settle down, but then they ran up a long 14-2 run, with a Nadia Mifsud trey, till the end of the session, to establish their command on the match.

In the second quarter, with a different formation, Hibs started with a Francesca Tabone trey, and completed a 9-0 run, before Loyola could make any impact on the game. They did that with a good 9-2 run, but the Paolites had a better ending to the session, as Beverlee Zammit got in among the scorers. At the interval it was a 37-17 match.

After the break the scoring began to be more frequent. Loyola could share the play with their opponents at first, but when Beverlee Zammit put in two treys in a row for Hibs, the champions took the game in hand, and they went on till the session ended, with a 14-0 run, for a 65-27 score after three sessions.

In the final quarter Hibs were still chopping and changing, but their scoring didn’t falter, although midway through the session Loyola made a creditable 10-4 run, including an Ann Camilleri trey. The Paolites then found the way to the basket with an 8-0 run, as the time wound down. The last points were shared between the two teams, as Hibs began to chase another honour after the two already won before the Melbourne sojourn.

Hibs: 23 Beverlee Zammit, 16 Lucienne Bezzina, 14 Alexis Darmanin

Loyola: 21 Christine Grima

Refs: E.Mangani, C. Terribile

Comfortable Kerygma victory

Kerygma 82

SN Suns JC 23

(23-9)(20-5)(17-4)(22-5)

Women’s basketball returned after the Commonwealth Games. Kerygma obtained the first Shield victory, in a Group A game. An easy one over a six-player Suns side, who tried their utmost, but had to concede a heavy defeat.

Suns found things difficult from the start, as Kerygma, sporting Fiona Schembri, fresh from Melbourne, grabbed the lion’s share of her team’s first session points, while Ruth Farrugia made the game’s first trey for Suns, but they were already trailing badly.

In the second session Suns were still being hit, and Josette Calleja made her first trey for Kerygma, as they compiled a long 18-2 run. Suns recovered a little at the end, but they were way behind at the interval, when Kerygma enjoyed a 43-14 advantage.

After the break Suns had a better start, but then faded away again, and Kerygma went on till the end of the session, with another 18-0 run, including another Josette Calleja trey. After three sessions it was a 60-18 match.

In the last session Kerygma didn’t let up, and proceeded to increase their lead once more.

It was only Melanie Pulis, with her two hoops, who brought some relief for Suns, as Kerygma kept on trying till the end.

Kerygma: 23 Josette Calleja, 23 Fiona Schembri, 16 Renette Debono

Suns: 8 Petra Zammit

Refs: G.Barbara, A.Carbonaro