This KO competition, to be known as the Hibs Cup, was won for the eighth consecutive time by the Paolites, and for the 12th time in 16 years.

They were strong favourites to keep the honour, and they did with a commanding performance, to stamp their authority on women’s basketball these last two seasons. Depiro have never won this KO, and finished on the losing side on five occasions, four of them against the same Hibs.

Depiro had Raquel Camenzuli and Joselle Cardona missing, and recovered claire Hawkins, who missed quite a good number of games.

Depiro tried to contain their opponents at the start, and managed an early 3-2 lead. Hibs didn’t take too long to go in front, and after Depiro had pulled back to a point down, the Paolites turned on the pressure, and Depiro’s turnovers were punished, as the champions put in a good 13-0 run, which was finally stopped with a Sarah Pace hoop.

Till the end of the quarter Hibs increased their lead again, for a handsome lead.

In the second session the champions’ stifling press produced a 9-0 run, stopped with a Greta Zarb basket. Hibs went on with a Bev Zammit trey, and made up another 9-0 run, rudely stopped with a Rachel Camilleri trey, as Depiro shared the play for some time.

They were still way behind at the interval, and the champions could count on a 49-19 advantage.

The Paolites took time to settle down after the break, also due to some overconfidence, and Sarah Pace sank a trey for Depiro, followed by a further hoop by Camilleri.

After four minutes Hibs found their rythym again, and a 9-0 run, with a Lucienne Bezzina trey, got them on their way again. Depiro’s contribution was another Camilleri trey, in a 7-0 run, but they were stopped by Bev Zammit’s points. After three sessions hIbs had a winning 66-33 lead.

Zammit sank her second trey at the start of the final quarter, but then they took a back seat, as Depiro put in a 7-2 run. The Paolites recovered with free shots, but Rhian Spiteri concluded well in attack for Depiro. Hibs seemed content with the result. as time trickled out, with Depiro ending the game on a good score, given the circumstances.

At the end of the match, BOV marketing manager Michael Galea, presented the trophy to Hibs captain Lucienne Bezzina. The Paolites are now quite used to keeping this trophy.

HIBS: 6 C. Fenech, 24 B. Zammit, F. Bianco, 22 L. Bezzina, F. Tabone, 6 NM. Desira, 12 D. Parnis, 5 A. Darmanin, S. Debono. S. Micallef, 2 M. Cutajar

DEPIRO: 1 C. Riolo, 13 S. Pace, 15 R. Camilleri, 1 C. Hawkins, 11 A. Sciberras, E. Vella, 5 R. Spiteri, 5 G. Zarb

REFEREES: Emanuel Mangani, Alfred Carbonaro