The champions’ triumphant march goes on. They made short shrift of their opponents, as the tandem, Beverlee Zammit and Lucienne Bezzina, had a field day, piling hoops and treys at will.
Luxol were never in the game, and they had no answer to the Paolites’ all-round play. Luxol now resign themselves to the classification pool in the next phase.
Luxol started on personal marking, but the champions still opened up with an 11-4 run. Both sides then sank treys, Kirsten Micallef for Luxol and Beverlee Zammit immediately after, for Hibs.
Luxol were caught on fast breaks, as Lucienne Bezzina went on a scoring spree, in a 10-0 run. The Violets recovered a little at the end, but Hibs were in command.
In the second quarter the Paolites began with treys by Bev Zammit and Bezzina. Soon after another Hibs 10-1 run, with a third Zammit trey, carried them way ahead of their opponents.
Luxol’s reply came late in the session, with a Psaila Savona trey, but they couldn’t decrease their deficit, and at the interval the champions were a massive 47-21 in front.
After the break Luxol were hit harder yet, as Hibs, with bench players coming on court, were still too strong, and with Zammit and Bezzina putting in their treys, the gap between the two teams grew to alarming proportions. Luxol were agian limited to a few points, but Hibs were romping in with a 79-30 score, after three sessions.
In the final quarter Hibs rested their established players, and Luxol began on a good note. Before taking her place on the bench Zammit found time to sink in her sixth trey.
The match then petered tamely out, with Hibs marking their third win over Luxol, although their only blemish this season came early on against the same Violets.
LUXOL: 10 Lara Chetcuti
HIBS: 35 Beverlee Zammit, 27 Lucienne Bezzina, 12 Maria Desira
REFEREES: Jean Paul Sammut, Alfreed Carbonaro
Loyola Xuereb Ins. 52
Kerygma 48
Loyola won this important match, to pull ahead of their opponents in the race for third place, and a spot in the championship pool. It was a hard-fought match, and Kerygma must feel themselves unlucky, after having led for so long in the game.
The experienced players dominated the scene, with Josette Calleja piling in the points, including treys, for Kerygma, and Sandra Schembri Wismayer being the focal point for Loyola, as they finally clinched their win, in difficult circumstances.
The match started on a quiet note, and after taking the first lead, and then falling behind, it was Kerygma who were making the play. A 7-0 run, beginning with a Josette Calleja trey, gave them an advantage, which they kept till the end of the quarter, as Loyola were still disjointed in their play.
In the second session the match began to gather momentum. Ann Camilleri sank a trey for Loyola, who then tied at 14-14. Kerygma went ahead again, with a second Calleja trey.
Loyola tried to get back, but were hit again, this time with an Annabel Busuttil trey. Loyola finally recovered with Schembri Wismayer free shots, but Kerygma held out, and at the halfway stage they were 29-21 in front.
After the break Loyola put in a spurt at the start. A 9-0 run, with points by Denise Hollier and Schembri Wismayer, put them ahead. Josette Calleja then took the game in hand for Kerygma, and netted all her side’s points in this quarter. Kerygma regained the lead, and once more ended the session in front, on a 39-33 score.
In the last session Loyola showed more determination, and Schembri Wismayer led her team to an opening 9-2 run, to just forge ahead, at 42-41.
Elaine Cutajar made a three-point play for Kerygma, but Loyola went ahead again. Calleja sank her third trey for Kerygma, but Loyola had Schembri Wismayer to pull them through, denying Kerygma till the end, and ending their two-game winning spell.
LOYOLA: 19 Sandra Schembri Wismayer, 10 Denise Hollier, 7 Abigail Azzopardi
KERYGMA: 26 Josette Calleja, 7 Annabel Busuttil
REFEREES: Emanuel Mangani, Anthony Micallef
SN Suns JC 26
Sliema Wanderers 65
Sliema took the opportunity to claim their second league win, which was their double over Suns. Sliema made sure of evading the bottom rung in the standings.
Suns could feel justified in winning the first quarter, but Sliema were better through the whole match, and had Leanne Sciberras confirming her present, favourable form.
It was actually Sliema who had the better start, going into a 6-2 lead, but Suns replied well, and points by Petra Zammit and Diane Falzon ensured them a slim first-session lead, despite Sciberras’ hoops for Sliema.
The match turned in the second quarter, as Sliema put in a 10-2 opening run, to forge ahead. Suns tried to get back but, besides Sciberras’ points, there was Francesca Farrugia to boost Sliema’s tally, as the Blues went clear of their opponents. At the interval the score had gone up to 32-18.
After the break Suns seemed to make a recovery, as they replied quickly to Sliema’s opening hoop, with two of their own, but this was about it for Suns.
Sliema went on a long 15-0 run, which lasted till the end of the quarter, as Suns were left completely behind, on a 49-22 score, after three sessions.
The last quarter was pretty much the same, with Sliema dominating the match, and extending their lead with ease.
It was only Diane Falzon who provided the opposition, with her hoops. In the last seconds of play Michela Loporto sank the only trey of the game, for Sliema.
SUNS: 14 Diane Falzon
SLIEMA: 24 Leanne Sciberras, 10 Lonike Calleja
REFS: Anthony Micallef, Jennifer Mangani
Standings: 18 Hibs Medsea (9-0), 16 Depiro (7-2), 15 Loyola Xuereb Installations (6-3), 15 Kerygma (5-5), 14 Luxol (4-6), 11 Sliema Wanderers (2-7), 10 SN Suns JC (0-10)