Hibernians     79     Bupa Luxol     74    

(17-18, 25-16, 18-23, 19-17)

Hibs have now won five of their seven meetings with the champions. They are in second place, only a win behind the leaders, Athleta. Luxol must now look behind their shoulders, as they battle for a play-off place. The Paolites were without Simon Attard, and Luxol had CJ Cordina and Dirk Schembri missing. This was Luxol's last game of the second round of play.

The champions opened up with a seven-point run, as Keith Dimech sank a triple. Marco Matijevic replied for Hibs, with a brace of hoops, but the champions reacted well, with a 9-4 run, as Kyle Meyer netted his trey. Hibs ended the period on a good note, and a 9-0 run, as Alvaro Lizaur put in a very late triple.

In the second session the Paolites jumped ahead, with a couple of hoops. Luxol tied the score, with triples then making their way at both ends, with JP Schembri and Nikola Vasovic for the champions, and in between there were Chad Patus and Luke Faruugia for Hibs. The lead changed hands twice more, before the Paolites made a session ending 11-2 run, as Patus netted another trey. At the interval Hibs were 42-34 in front.

After the break Luxol drew nearer, as Meyer sank a second triple. Hibs could not contain their opponents, and the champions made up another 12-2 run, with Vasovic and Dimech treys. Their lead was short-lived, as Hibs had Patus netting another triple, and in a late flurry, the Paolites were lev3el, and Patus then thrust them forward, with his third trey, for a 60-57 advantage. The last quarter had Schembri, for Luxol, and Lizaur, fir Hibs, making more triples.

The Poalites were in front, but Luxol put in a 9-2 run, a William Ahlberg trey, to overturn the score. Roderick Vella restored Hibs' lead, and although the champions tied the score, the late stages had the Paolites surging ahead once more, with the game's last points, as Patus sealed their victory.

Hibs: R. Vella 5, P. Attard, K. Sultana, L. Farrugia 8, I. Bonett, L. Tardito, A. Axiaq 7, M. Matijevic 22, A. Lizaur14, F. Mariani, C. Patus 23  

Luxol:  M. Sjoberg,  N. Vasovic 22,  J. Melillo, JP Schembri 8, K. Dimech 8, W. Ahlberg 13, K. Meyer 22, A. Micallef Trigona 1

Referees: T. Mantere. E. Mangani, N. Azzopardi

Starlites grab first league win

Cynergi Depiro     69     Starlites GIG     78           

(20-25, 15-13, 11-14, 23-26)

They were striving for it, and it happened against the side above them in the rankings. Starlites are back in the reckoning, also with a shout, to ease away from the bottom rung of the league ladder. Mitchell Brewe's performance instilled confidence in the Starlites' side, and a sound surge, midway through the last session, gave them the spoils. Depiro were without Lene Duckinson, and Sean Boirg and Mirco Azzopardi were missing for Starlites.

Triples started early in the match, as Alec Felice Pace, Ryan Carabott and Robert Bonnici netted theirs for Starlites, and David Bugeja sank his, for Depiro, in between. A three-hoop spread had Depiro going ahead, and they were in front, until a late push had Starlites with a 9-2 run, and another Carabott trey, to end the period in the lead. The second period was shorter on points, but the triples were still plentiful. Kurt Xuereb, Andrew Aquilina and Dominic Scafidi made theirs, for depiro, and Bonnici and Shawn pace replied for Starlites, who kept Depiro chasing them till the interval, when Paul Ferrante's side were 38-35 ahead.

After the break Starlites edged more in front, and more Brewe points had them on a good advantage. Depiro lost Bugeja, with a knee injury, but they stuck to their task, and cut down on their deficit, as Starlites were 52-46 in front. In the last session Xuereb and Scafidi treys had Depiro near, and more Xuereb points turned the score around. Felice Pace sank a second Starlites trey, but Nicholas Grech also netted a Depiro trey, for their last advantage. Starlites had Brewe and Felice pace to put in a sound 12-0 run, and Depiro had a hefty hill to climb. Grech sank another triple, but time was against them, and Starlites gleefully obtained their victory, to put more hope in, for the games ahead.

Depiro: E. Briffa, D. Bugeja 13, D. Camilleri, A. Aquilina 7, N. Grech 8, A. Attard, M. Mallia 2, K. Xuereb15 , M. Borg , D. Scafidi 24

Starlites: S. Pace 3, M. Azzopardi, R. Bonnici 10, A. Schembri, M. Scerri, M. Falzon, A. Felice Pace 14, R. Carabott 12, I. Felice Pace, J. Wait, M. Brewe 39

Referees: B. Vassallo, Z. Dobrosavljevic, K. Dworniczak