The Paolites recorded their third win over Loyola this season and a repeat performance after their Shield final win the Sunday before. Both sides had players missing from the same final but the champions always had the edge over their opponents and had already guaranteed their victory before the interval.

Loyola had Christina Grima back abroad and missing players in Kirstie Tonna Martha Gatt and Elena Falzon. Hibs were without Kirsten Baldacchino and Mandy Zammit.

The Paolites came out strongly to post an 11-2 lead with a Francesca Tabone triple. Loyola shared the last four hoops with their opponents but Hibs held on to their advantage. In the second quarter the champions once more made up an 11-0 run with Lucienne Bezzina free throws. They were stopped by a Fiona Schembri triple but Hibs went on with two more hoops and at the interval they had established a solid 29-11 lead.

After the break the champions gave their bench players some more time on court and Loyola had occasion to make up a 10-3 run beginning with a Francesca Camilleri triple although Tabone also sank a second trey for Hibs. There were few more points till the period ended 36-23 in the Paolies’ favour.

The last session had the champions with an early Bezzina triple but the later points were not so plentiful with the champions responding to their adversaries’ points especially from Doreen Micallef.

Loyola: 6 J. Doughty, 3 F. Schembri, A. Heywood, 5 D. Said Hollier,  4 R. Spiteri, 4 A. Bonanno, 3 F. Camilleri, 2 SJ Barbara, 2 K. Gouder

Hibs: 2 E. Micallef, 2 E. Cassar, 14 L. Bezzina, 6 F. Tabone, 4 M. Desira, 12 D. Micallef, 2 N. Arrigo, 4 J. Cardona, 1 C. Schiavone

Referees: A. Carbonaro, E. Mangani