The champions reversed a first game five point defeat to lay claim to this competition for the sixth time, and for the last three seasons in succession. Strict attention to Kaila Agius under the boards and a better functioning attack, served the Paolites well, as they didn’t lose any of the four sessions of play. Depiro had Antoinette Borg displaying heroics and Sarah Pace with her triples, but the team did not play to their usual standard. Though Depiro pressed hotly in the latter part of the match, the champions played confidently and their pedigree carried them thorugh.

Hibs were without Caroline Schiavone and Emma Micallef, but recovered FrancescaTabone. Depiro were at full strength, with the return of Justine Xuereb.

It was Depiro taking the first leads of the match but the Paolites did not take long to come into their own, and they put together a four basket run, to take their first advantage. Depiro pulled back with a Pace triple which cut Hibs’ lead by half, but the Paolites held on till the end of the session. They were still behind on aggregate score however.

In the second period, and after Depiro went to within a point of their adversaries, it was the champions once again, with an 8-2 run, as Maria Desira got in among the scorers. They were stopped with a second Pace trey but replied quickly to open up a better gap between the two sides. Borg pulled Depiro nearer but Depiro were still 17-22 behind at the halfway stage of the encounter.

After the break both side’s first points cancelled each other out until the Paolites strode forward to open up a double figure advantage. Depiro’s answer was a steady 10-1 run, with triples from Greta Zarb and a third Pace one. Depiro, although trailing in the match, were ahead on aggregate. The champions managed to increase their lead and tie the score between the two sides on a 35-30 score, with a quarter to go.

The Paolites kept going and a Kirsten Baldacchino triple had them putting more distance from Depiro. The latter could only reply through free throws, mainly from Borg, before the champions were back notching up their baskets when Desira began an 8-0 run, to steer clear of the opposition.

Depiro’s slight hopes fizzled out, when time ran out, as Hibs, despite constant pressure, kept a tight hold, to win their second seasonal honour, after the Detur Shield.

Hibs: E. Cassar, M. Zammit, 10 L. Bezzina, F. Tabone, 14 M. Desira, 10 D. Micallef, 5 A. Darmanin, 6 N. Arrigo, 7 K. Baldacchino, 2 J. Cardona

Depiro: 11 S. Pace4, 5 G. Zarb, J. Xuereb, A. Mifsud, M. Bonett, F. Bianco, J. Busuttil Gaerty,17 A. Borg, C. Sammut, E. Vella, 2 S. Micallef, 7 K. Agius

Referees: G. Barbara, B. Sly