Luxol have still not managed to beat Depiro this season after suffering their third loss. It was a match of contrasts with Luxol as usual in front till the interval. Then Depiro shot forward to open up a solid advantage.

The Violets neutralised this in the last period but the last points of the match went Depiro’s way and they were the first team in the final to await their opponents with a good idea of who they were going to be.

The Violets were at their latest full complement. Depiro recovered Christine Sammut but Greta Zarb was abroad.

After a somewhat quiet start it was luxol with the first inroad as they made up a 9-0 run with a Mandi Sciortino triple. Depiro responded and Sarah Pace netted two quick treys in an 8-2 run. Right at the end of the period it was Steffi De Martino with a Luxol triple for a better lead. Sciortino nailed a second triple for Luxol in the second session but Depiro replied with a 10-3 run although De Martino also made another Luxol trey. Sciortino was still putting in her triples a further two but Depiro crept closer till the interval and then drew level. Becky Naudi gave the Violets a halftime lead at 32-30.

After the break, Luxol were caught cold by a determined Depiro side who delivered a telling blow with a solid 15-0 run including a trio of triples from Francesca Bianco. They were stopped with a third De Martino trey but still managed to net three more hoops for a sound 51-35 advantage.

A sole Depiro point in the last quarter really heralded a Luxol revival as they gnawed away at their deficit. Depiro were hit hard with a heavy 0-15 run ending with another De Martino triple as their lead was cut down to a single hoop.

Luxol twice tied the score but the game’s last free throws all belonged to Depiro as they strode into the final.

Luxol: 3 E. Moore, 14 M. Sciortino, L. Serge, 2 B. Naudi, 27 S. De Martino, P. Ellul, 7 D. Muscat, 2 E. Grech, 2 B. Zammit

Depiro: 14 S. Pace, J. Xuereb, A. Mifsud, M. Bonett, 17 F. Bianco, 2 J. Busuttil Gaerty, A. Borg, C. Sammut, 6 E. Vella, 2 S. Micallef, 17 K. Agius

Referees: E. Mangani, JP Sammut

Holders cruise through to another final

Athleta 32

Hibs Medsea 46

(2-19)(12-9)(7-14)(11-4)

It was plain sailing for the champions and they didn’t need to be at their best to overcome a modest Athleta outfit who to their credit managed to put in a decent performance.

Hibs could afford to be wasteful but this could also work out to their detriment in other important matches.

The way the match went, the Paolites inserted all their bench players with more playing time in the game.

Athleta sorely missed Leanne Sciberras their mainstay throughout the season. With the exception of long term injury Alexis Darmanin the champions fielded their usual side.

The Paolites pressed straight from the start and caused their adversaries to commit several turnovers. A 14-0 run with Joselle cardona in good form had Hibs in a good lead. Francesca Farrugia stopped her opponents with Athleta’s only hoop of the session but the champions ended the period with a Kirsten Baldacchino triple and a Cardona hoop.

The Paolites changed their whole complement for the next session but still opened up with a 9-2 run and an Emma Micallef triple. Athleta rallied well and Kelly Busuttil and Farrugia netted their points along with a Dana McKeon triple as they finished off the period with a 10-0 run. At the interval Hibs were still on a 28-14 advantage.

After the break, the points tally did not improve especially at Athleta’s end. At first the losers had a reply to the champions’ points but later on Hibs put in an 8-2 run which went on till the end of the session giving them a healthy 42-21 advantage.

The final period lost much of its importance for Hibs and their points were hard to come by as they continually missed their opportunities Athleta managed to crawl nearer to their opponents when the Paolites remained rooted to the double hoops by Doreen Micallef till the end of the match.

Athleta: 5 L. Calleja, M. Azzopardi Duca, G. Muscat, 3 D. McKeon, R. Sciberras, 8 F. Farrugia, 9 K. Busuttil, 7 C. Mifsud

Hibs: 5 E. Micallef, 2 E. Cassar, M. Zammit, 3 L. Bezzina, 2 F. Tabone, 4 M. Desira, 8 D. Micallef, 4 N. Arrigo, 3 K. Baldacchino, 15 J. Cardona, C. Schiavone

Referees: A. Carbonaro, C. Terribile