The match went right down to the wire, and, as in their last meeting, in the Super Cup, Depiro had the better of Hibs by a mere two points. The Paolites have now had to relinquish the third honour won last season, as Depiro advanced to the semis. Hibs had come from behind several times during the match, but it was Depiro who had to chase, late in the game.

The champions contested an alleged foul-marking error, and lodged a protest, at the end of the match.

It was Depiro who were the more accurate at the start, with Sarah Pace helping them on to a 6-0 lead. Hibs replied likewise, and then the champions also went into the lead. Depiro overcame their indifferent patch, and Rachel Camilleri led her team to a first-session advantage, with the Paolites finding difficulty against a shifting opposing defence.

In the second quarter Abigail Sciberras increased her side’s lead to 19-12, before Hibs could pot their first hoop. It was Alexis Darmanin and Kirsten Micallef who tallied the champions’ points, but in between Depiro were putting distance from their adversaries. Sciberras, and a Greta Zarb trey put the Paolites on a 19-28 deficit at the interval.

After the break the game started to turn around. Doreen Micallef led her team, as they began to claw their way back. They had a setback, when Greta Zarb sanka second trey for Depiro, to open a 31-23 advantage, but the champions found their form, and an 8-0 run tied the score, at 31-31. The score remained the same till the end of the third quarter.

In the final session it was Depiro who started in the right frame of mind. A 7-1 run, with a Sarah Pace trey, opened up a useful lead once more, but the Paolites came back strongly, and some forceful play, with a Kirsten Micallef trey, in a 9-0 run, gave them the lead, at 41-38.

Francesca Bianco’s trey for Hibs found a ready answer, with Zarb’s third trey for Depiro, as the latter made the final, telling points, to forge ahead, in the final minute. This time Hibs had no reply, and Depiro join three other teams in the semis.

Hibs: 12 Doreem Micallef, 11 Alexis Darmanin, 8 Kirsten Micallef

Depiro: 10 Abigail Sciberras, 9 Sarah Pace, 9 Greta Zarb

Referees: Emanuel Mangani, David Sutr

Luxol 59

Kerygma 44

(14-9)(16-2)(16-11)(13-12)

Luxol made their way into the semis, but they were offered good opposition by Kerygma, who had already been beaten twice by Luxol this season. Luxol have a habit of taking good leads during matches, then taper off and let their adversaries come back into the game.

The three point queens were active at both ends of the court, as Bev Zammit and Josette Calleja keep potting them in from long range.

Cynthia Saliba was missing once more from Kerygma’s ranks. Luxol had Bev Zammit back, after she missed their last victory over Depiro.

The Violets went into an 8-2 start, as Diana Muscat concluded from Bev Zammit’s promptings. Kerygma took time to get going, but Moira Caruana sank a trey, and reduced the deficit. Kerygma were still trailing as Muscat continued to find the opposing basket for Luxol.

In the second session Kerygma advanced to within a point, but then were hit by a Bev Zammit trey. Mandy Sciortino extended Luxol’s lead, to a 19-13 score, but Lara Cauchi sank a trey for Kerygma, who went on to tie the score.

Zammit made her second trey for Luxol, and although Kerygma had a reply, it was the Violets, with a session ending 8-0 run, to go in at halftime, on a 30-21 advantage.

After the break Luxol continued where they left off, with another 9-0 run, and Emma Moore the main scorer. Kerygma snapped the run, and shared the play for some time, with a 42-25 score. Luxol grabbed a couple of hoops, but it was Kerygma, or Josette Calleja to be exact, with a 7-0 run and two treys, as she ended the session, with Luxol on a 46-32 lead.

In the final quarter Sciortino led the Violets in a three basket run, but Calleja again tormented the Luxol rearguard, with a personal 9-0 run, including two more treys, and Kerygma advanced to a 42-52 score. Luxol recovered with a brace of hoops, and then finished with a 7-1 run, as Bev Zammit closed down with a trey.

Luxol: 23 Beverlee Zammit, 12 Emma Moore, 12 Mandy Sciortino, 10 Diana Muscat

Kerygma: 21 Josette Calleja, 7 Lara Cauchi

Referees: Stephen Micallef, Clive Terribile

Abigail Sciberras wins women’s December award

The second player to win the Peugeot player of the month for this season is Depiro youngster Abigail Sciberras.

Sciberras was presented with this award by Colin Schembri, vice- president of the MBA (see picture).

During the month of December, Depiro won the Super Cup final and stopped Hibs’ dominance in the female sector. Abigail Sciberras is one of the best rebounders of the season with an average of 7.10 rebounds and she’s in the sixth place of the top rebounders table.