A tense and low scoring encounter went Luxol’s way right at the end. A mix-up then occured in the final seconds which resulted in Hibs protesting after the match for a technical error on the officiating table.

The two sides were never far from each other throughout the game which was decided with a winning basket four seconds from time.

Luxol paraded their new foreigner, the Italian Jessica Carbonell who took the place of Lara Chetcuti. Hibs recovered Alexis Darmanin who had missed their last two matches.

Kirsten Micallef netted a Hibs triple in the first seconds of the match but then her side went pointless for some time as they fell behind.

Their next efforts had a reply from a Bev Zammit triple. Till the end of the period the Paolites had drawn level twice as the match stayed close.

Hibs were hard pressed in the second period as Emma Moore began with a triple and Luxol made up an 11-2 run to forge ahead.

Kirsten Micallef replied for the champions in a 7-3 run but Zammit made a second trey and Luxol were leading 24-19 at the interval.

After the break the Paolites drew closer with a Lucienne Bezzina triple but the Violets re-established their lead as Mandi Sciortino sank a trey.

The champions reacted till the end of the session with a 7-2 run as Bezzina went on with her points in a 31-32 score for Luxol.

The Paolites eked out a couple of slim leads with triples by Bezzina and Micallef. Although they fell behind again, Hibs were back ahead at the end when Steffi De Martino netted for Luxol and grabbed victory which put three teams on level points at the top of the standings.

Then came Hibs’ protest after the match concerning a given time out for Luxol.

Luxol: 5 E. Moore, 7 M. Sciortino, L. Serge, B. Naudi, K. Portelli, 10 S. De Martino, T. De Martino, P. Ellul, 4 D. Muscat, 7 J. Carbonell, 1 E. Grech, 6 B. Zammit

Hibs:  E. Micallef, E. Cassar, M. Zammit, 13 L. Bezzina, F. Tabone, 6 D. Micallef, 2 A. Darmanin, N. Arrigo, 14 K. Micallef,  4 J. Cardona, C. Schiavone

Referees: A. Carbonaro, B. Sly 

Standings

After all teams have played six matches, Hibs Medsea, McDonalds Depiro and Luxol lead the standings on 11 points each. They are followed by Alyssa Ashley Loyola on 10, Athleta nine, St Andrews and Starlites seven and Guzelpinar Mtarfa on six points.