Depiro defied the odds, to pull off a stunning victory, over a Siggiewi side who were at sixes and sevens throughout the whole match. It was a game to forget for them, and a victory to savour for the young Depiro side, who stuck to their plan, and record a comprehensive win, as they have been doing for the last few seasons.
Siggiewi had Abraham Portelli to keep them in front, at first, despite an Antoine Costa trey for Depiro. The latter then had the better options late in the quarter, as Roderick Vella and David Agius sank more treys. Siggiewi had difficulty in outside shooting, and were trailing after the opening session.
Costa put in another trey for Depiro, in the second period, but Siggiewi changed their defence, going to personal marking. With Shoults feeding in front, and Stefanovic working hard under the boards, Siggiewi made a 9-2 run, only to be hit by an Andrew Aquilina trey. Siggiewi once again became ineffective, and Depiro pushed up their lead again, till the halftime buzzer, and a 31-21 score.
After the break Siggiewi pulled back with a 6-0 run, and when it seemed that they had made it back, Depiro’s free shots put them in a double figure advantage once more. Siggiewi’s efforts weren’t up to standard, and Depiro had Roderick Vella, with his treys, to keep their distance up front. After three sessions Siggiewi were trailing by a heavy 36-48 score.
The writing was on the wall for Siggiewi. They were hit early in the last quarter, by a third Costa trey, although they were back to 41-51 down. They then fell apart, as Depiro calmly made up a 12-2 run, and Vella was supreme, marshalling his team, and totting up his personal score. It was play in patches for Siggiewi, trying to amass a decent score, against a superior outfit on the day.
Siggiewi: B. Zammit, 13 L. Camilleri, 8 D. Camilleri, J. Doughty, 12 A. Portelli, 3 I. Mercieca, 3 P. Shoults, 6 JP Bonnici, 2 A. Bonnici, JP Antoncic, 7 I. Stefanovic, L. Camilleri
Depiro: 32 R. Vella, D. Debono, M. Sammut, G. Muscat, 6 A. Aquilina, 5 A. Tabone, M. Mallia, 2 C. cassar, 8 E. Lupo, 15 A. Costa, I. Tanti, 3 D. Agius
Referees: Bernard Vassallo, Gordon Barbara, Jean Paul Sammut
MBA Shield Women
Semi final
Depiro 73 vs St. James Hospital 29
(12-5)(18-9)(18-6)(25-9)
Depiro made a safe passage into the final, easily disposing of St. James, apart for a minor blip at the start, Depiro were always in front. They could increase their lead regularly throughout, as St. James were not in a position to offer strong rsistance, and always had difficulty in obtaining points.
Depiro recovered Abigail Sciberras, who missed their last two games, but were missing Abigail Muscat. St. James had senior coach, Paul Sultana, on the bench, vice Sandro farrugia, and were without Annabel Busuttil.
St. James started full of vigour, and Ann Camilleri promptly sank a trey. They went on to a 5-2 lead, as Depiro had not yet settled down, and missed some easy baskets. The Mtarfa side then managed to shut out their adversaries till the end of the quarter, with a long 10-0 run, to open up a small advantage.
In the second session St. James found the way to the basket again, but Depiro put in their treys, by Rachel Camilleri, in a 9-2 run, to go further ahead. St. James made more points with difficulty, while Depiro were playing confidently, and till the interval they made another 9-2 run, to lead 30-14 midway through the game.
After the break Depiro kept their grip on the match, pressing their opponents, and taking possessions. They ran up another 9-0 break, as Joselle Cardona was active under the boards, before Adalia Bonanno could reply twice for the Saints. Sarah Pace sank a trey for Depiro, then it was quiet for a while, before Cardona ended the session with a couple of hoops. Score at 48-20.
In the final quarter Diane Cassar stood out for St. James, but she was eclipsed by Greta Zarb, who made two treys, besides more points. Sarah Pace also sank a second trey, and Camilleri and Cardona put in their share. Depiro ended the match on a 16-1 run, to stride into the final.
Depiro: 22 Joselle Cardona, 19 Rachel Camilleri, 16 Greta Zarb, 12 Sarah Pace
St. James: 8 Diane Cassar
Referees: Emanuel Mangani, Clive Terribile
Hibs Medsea 58 vs Luxol 48
(14-11)(19-13)(9-13)(16-11)
The holders booked the second final place, but they were given a hard time by a resurgent Luxol side, who came close after the interval, but only managed to go in front once, at the start. Hibs had three players on double-figure scoring, as had Luxol, in a game watched by an appreciable number of spectators.
Luxol had a missing player, Justine Mangion. All eyes were on two protagonists, Beverlee Zammit, now in a Luxol outfit, after parting with the champions, and the opposite player traded, Kirsten Micallef, presently with the Paolites.
An early Micallef trey found a reply from Luxol, for a 5-5 score. Soon after the Violets also managed to take a brief lead. Hibs recovered, through Alexis darmanin, to post a 7-2 run, till the end of the quarter, and gain a first session lead, on a close score.
In the second quarter Maria Desira took over for the Paolites, and her points put Hibs on a better footing, at 23-15. Mandy Sciortino provided Luxol’s reply, with points, including a trey, to cut down the deficit. Then it was Doreen Parnis for the champions, with Luxol only able to reply from a last second bev Zammit basket, for a 33-24 Hibs lead.
After the break there was a variance in the play. The Paolites found stiffer resistance from Luxol, and the Violets had better shooting from the outside lane, as they kept their regular scoring rythym. A 7-0 run, with a Psaila Savona trey, put them within the distance. Hibs replied, but more treys by Psaila Savona and Zammit made it a single hoop match, only for Kirsten Micallef to sink a second trey for Hibs, for a 47-37 score, after three sessions.
In the final quarter Lucol once more went to within a basket, but two consecutive treys by Micallef, in an 8-0 run, put the champions on a souns 50-40 lead. Luxol found the means to come back once more, in an 8-2 run, as Zammit replied with a brace of treys. Hibs kept calm, held possession, and their late points ensured the win, and a place in the final.
Hibs: 17 Maria Desira, 12 Alexis Darmanin, 12 Kirsten Micallef
Luxol: 16 Beverlee Zammit, 11 Mandy Sciortino, 11 Francesca Psaila Savona
Referees: Stephen Micallef, Alfred Carbonaro