When the champions are in form they really pile on the pressure and Starlites had a taste of their adversaries’ prowess as Hibs made short shrift of the opposition with a determined performance. When their stalwarts are on song and the points just come naturally then the opposing defence are in for a hard time.

The champions had Kirsten Micallef back with a bang but were still missing Alexis Darmanin. Starlites were without Amanda Farrugia.

The Paolites had Kirsten Micallef with two early triples as they took the match firmly in hand and then they ended the session with an 11-2 run as Lucienne Bezzina and Doreen Micallef put in their points.

In the second period Starlites managed some early hoops when Marilou Cutajar remained their major scorer but a Francesca Tabone triple in a 9-0 run had Hibs on an extended advantage. At the interval they were 44-15 in front.

Starlites put in a couple of hoops after the break but the champions had Tabone sinking a second triple. The Paolites then went on a long 14-0 run till the end of the period with a Bezzina trey and Nadia Arrigo points.

Samantha Tabone netted a brace of hoops for Starlites in the final session but Hibs’ Kirsten Micallef was on hand once more to sink two more triples in a long 18-2 run to seal her side’s  win despite some more points till the end and a second Bezzina trey.

Hibs: E. Micallef, 4 E. Cassar, M. Zammit, 26 L. Bezzina, 6 F. Tabone, C. Schiavone, 17 D. Micallef, 9 N. Arrigo, 18 K. Micallef, 6 J. Cardona.

Starlites: 4 C. Riolo, A. Grixti, 5 S. Tabone, 4 L. Pisani, 5 C. Spiteri, 2 S. Davies, 2 L. Pirotta, N. Attard, C. Scicluna, 8 M. Cutajar.

Referees: E. Mangani A. Carbonaro