Hibs ran away with the first part of the match, and everything seemed cut and dry for them, but a Loyola revival, and the champions’ sudden loss of form, opened up the game again. Hibs’ recovery and Marylou Cutajar’s lethal shooting in the final quarter turned the match Hibs’ way once more, and they strolled into the final, from their second place in their group.

The champions had a dream start. A strong opening gave them a 12-2 lead, with Beverlee Zammit and Lucienne Bezzina sinking treys. Loyola managed a sort of reaction, but Hibs took over once more, and till the end of the session they had increased their lead, to push away from their opponents early on.

Loyola were still on the receiving end at the start of the second quarter. A 7-2 run, ending with a Doreen Parnis trey, gave the Paolites a 26-8 score. Loyola finally put their act together, and with Dorianne Galea evading her marker, Loyola ran up a 10-0 score, which went on till the end of the session. At the interval Hibs were holding a 26-18 lead.

After the break the champions still had not found a way to Loyola’s basket. Their efforts bore no fruit as Loyola, slowly but laboriously, managed to get to within a basket, at 24-26. At long last it was Caroline Fenech, with a three-point play, to break Hibs’ stale period. Then it was free shots and Doreen Parnis with another trey, to stretch the Paolites’ lead once more. After three sessions Loyola found themselves 30-40 down.

In the final quarter Loyola’s reaction didn’t materialise, and Hibs could contain their opponents again. To make sure of the match Marylou Cutajar hammered in her hoops, to take her side clear yet again. As Loyola wilted at this crucial part of the game Lucienne Bezzina sank another trey. Hibs were home and dry, and in the final.

Loyola: 18 Dorianne Galea

Hibs: 22 Lucienne Bezzina, 14 Doreen Parnis, 11 Marylou Cutajar

Referees: Stephen Micallef, Alfred Carbonaro

* * *

Luxol 41

Depiro 48

(9-13)(10-9)(11-11)(11-15)

This was a closer match than the previous semi final, at the end. Both sides had their moments, but Depiro’s overall play made them deserved winners, but they were given a good run for their money, and Luxol played their hearts out. This game saw the return of two Depiro stalwarts, for the first time this season, Roseanne Falzon and Marika Micallef, although only the former was utilised in the match.

Depiro also had Sarah Pace and Rhian Spiteri out injured, and Rachel Camilleri only played for half a game, as she also suffered a facial contusion, and took no further part in the match.

Both sides started the match at breakneck speed, but points were not so plentiful. Amanda Sciortino’s trey for Luxol opened the game more, and Charlotte Riolo replied for Depiro with her trey. Depiro had the better ending, with Greta Zarb’s insistence, for a small lead

In the second quarter Depiro tried to press home their advantage, but they were halted by a Psaila Savona trey. Luxol went to a basket down again, at 15-17. Charlotte Riolo sank her second trey for Depiro, but Luxol were close enough, and ended the session with a last-second hoop by Psaila Savona, for a 22-19 score to Depiro at the interval.

After the break depiro were hard pressed by a determined Luxol side. A Psaila Savona trey gave the Violets a 24-23 lead, and they kept their advantage for some time, before losing Mandy Sciortino on useless fouls. Roseanne Falzon went on court for Depiro, as they had a good ending to the quarter, with a small 6-1 run, which was enough to turn the score around, at 33-30 after three sessions.

The last session was a wholehearted effort by both sides. Luxol went to just a point down, with a Kirsten Micallef trey, and then tied the score soon afterwards. depiro hung on, and it was Charlotte Riolo again with her trey, to push them ahead once more. This time Luxol failed to come back, and Depiro breathed a sigh of relief with Falzon’s late hoop. They now meet Hibs in the final, for the umpteenth time, in an unusual setting, as both teams had made the semis from the second place in their respective groups.

Luxol: 10 Francesca Psaila Savona

Depiro: 16 Greta Zarb, 13 Joselle Cardona, 10 Charlotte Riolo

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Jennifer Mangani