The Paolites made sure not to repeat their previous feeble start just five days before against the same adversaries. Athleta fell behind quickly and couldn’t get back near enough to make a game of it. The match really served as a good testing time for the champions seeing as they ahd to play in a Shield final just two days later.

Athleta once more had Dorien Jager Rhian Spiteri and Chanel Galea missing. The champions also had two unavailable players Doreen Micallef and Alexis Darmanin.

The Paolites made a determined start with an 8-2 run and Joselle cardona points.

Athleta’s reply was not so convincing and Hibs made up another 7-0 run mainly through Lucienne Bezzina to open up a good lead. In the second session the champions came storming out to register an 11-0 run with Maria Desira hoops and a Francesca Tabone triple.

This time Athleta had a better reaction with a 9-0 run and a Lonike Calleja trey. The Paolites ended the period with another 8-2 run for a 36-18 interval advantage.

Athleta fared worse after the break with Hibs netting a solid 15-2 run shared between four players. Towards the end of the quarter Tabone sank a second triple as the champions increased their lead to a 54-22 score.

The Paolites tapered off in the final period as all their players had a piece of the action. Despite that Athleta couldn’t make any inroads to their large deficit and Bezzina managed to net a brace of triples for Hibs to keep their lead constant till the end.

Athleta: R. Sciberras, 5 L. Calleja, 5 L. Sciberras, 4 M. Azzoaprdi Duca, G. Muscat, 2 D. McKeon, 10 F. Farrugia, K. Busuttil, 9 C. Mifsud

Hibs: 5 E. Micallef, 9 E. Cassar, M. Zammit, 21 L. Bezzina, 6 F. Tabone, 8 M. Desira, 2 N Arrigo, 2 K. Baldacchino, 12 J. Cardona, C. Schiavone

Referees: A. Carbonaro, B. Sly

Guzelpinar Mtarfa 28

St Andrews 50

(5-6)(5-16)(11-14)(7-14)

St Andrews completed the semi final quartet with their handsome win over Mtarfa their third victory over their adversaries and their second in a week.

The Saints’ win was never in doubt and from the second period onwards they could detach themselves more and more from Mtarfa to register their entry in the semis.

Mtrafa were without Maria Azzopardi whilst Elaine Cachia Renette Magro and Rachel De Martino were all unavailable for the Saints.

The opening session left much to be desired. On the few occasions that St Andrews went to basket mainly through Nadia Cassar there was an Mtarfa response with Martha Abela providing the points.

Things went better for the Saints in the second period with Cassar making more points including a triple. St. Andrews put in an 11-2 run and although Mtarfa replied with a Carina Gauci Meilak triple the Saints made the last points of the session to lead 22-10 at the interval.

After the break Mtarfa had Nicola Said with a brace of triples but they couldn’t get any nearer as St. Andrews had the De Martino pair Madeleine and Tina with their points in a 10-3 run which put them further away from their adversaries at 36-21.

In the final quarter the Saints had Madeleine De Martino in a 7-2 run before being stopped with a Rachel Sammut triple for Mtarfa. The last stages were uneventful as the Saints strolled through to their win.

Mtarfa: 3 M. Abela, M. Agius, Y. Muscat, 5 C. Gauci Meilak, 3 R. Sammut, 6 N. Said, 2 C. Vella, 2 F. Borg, 4 M. Scicluna, 1 G. Mifsud, 2 A. Demanuele

St Andrews: 13 N. Cassar, K. Portelli, 9 J. Calleja, N. Scicluna, M. Caruana, 5 J. Mangion, 9 T. De Martino, 14 M. De Martino

Referees: JP Sammut, J. Mangani