After a long wait, going back 12 years, and six lost finals, Depiro have finally bagged the KO honour. They thus ended Hibs’ long eight-year reign, and this was Depiro’s second honour of the season.
They also avenged the lost Louis Borg Cup, at the hands of the same Luxol, and also a league defeat by the Violets, just four days ago. This was the honour that Depiro really wanted this season, and they celebrated accordingly after the match.
Luxol had the better opening to the final, with treys by Bev Zammit and Emma Moore, in an 8-2 run. Depiro settled down, and a 9-0 run, ending with a Greta Zarb trey, gave them the lead. Depiro kept in front till the late stages, when a couple of hoops turned the score in favour of the VIolets.
In the second session, after a brief Depiro lead at the start, it was Luxol who put in a 7-0 run, ending with a Psaila Savona trey. Then it was Depiro again, making a 9-2 run, which had a Rachel Camilleri trey to end with. Depiro kept their lead till the interval, as they were on a 30-27 advantage.
After the break, both teams were very attentive of each other, and the scoring took a downward turn. Depiro held on to their lead till midway through the session, before Bev Zammit sank her second trey, to tie the score, at 34-34. The lead then changed hands twice, before Sarah Pace sank a last-second hoop, for a 38-36 lead for the Mtarfa side.
In the final quarter, Luxol’s efforts to make up the small deficit received a setback when Depiro added a couple of hoops, and a Sarah Pace trey completed a 7-0 run.
Bev Zammit was injured twice, and finally left the court, but Luxol had already looked a beaten side, as Depiro made their free shots when Luxol tried to stop the clock.
Depiro could play out possession till the end, to finish as joyous winners of an honour which had eluded them for so long.
After the match the BOV manager, PR and Branding, Karl Spiteri, presented the KO trophy to Depiro’s captain, Charlotte Riolo
Luxol: 7 E. Moore, 2 M. Sciortino, N. Said, 4 F. Psaila Savona, R. Naudi, R. Spiteri, J. Mangion, D. Spiteri, 2 D. Muscat, 11 L. Chetcuti, J. Attard, 14 B. Zammit
Depiro: R. Debono, C. Riolo, 15 S. Pace, 11 J. Cardona, K. Busuttil, 13 R. camilleri, 3 G. Zarb, J. Busuttil Gready, 5 A. Sciberras, 2 E. Vella, 3 R. Spiteri
Referees: Gordon Barbara, Stephen Micallef