Basketball, Men Div. 1: Hibs win honour for the fourth time

Sunday, 1 April 2018, 13:22 Last update: about 8 years ago

Photos: Domenic Aquilina

Bupa Luxol 70 Hibernians 85

(10-16, 18-31, 17-19, 25-19)

This was the fourth final, this season, between these two sides, with the Paolites winning it for the fourth time, and also defending it successfully, from last season. This was also the eighth meeting between these outfits, this season, with Hibs emerging victors on six occasions. Apart from the initial stages, the match was in Hibs' hands, as they set up a winning margin by the end of the third session. Luxol's triples, in the final period, brought about a more respectable score, as Luxol suffered their third final defeat, after an initial Super Cup success. As expected, Dirk Schembri was roped in again, for this important encounter, which gives the right to the winner, to take part in the coming Super Cup, next season.

It was actually the Violets, playing in their natural colours, who were first off the block. Their initial William Ahlberg brace of hoops were neutralised by a pair of Hibs baskets, but Luxol were again in front, with a trio of hoops. From then on it was the Paolites controlling the play. They put in a 12-0 run, till the end of the session, with a commendable triple, from Luke Farrugia, coming off the bench. He was awarded the match MVP, at the end of the game, for his performance, throughout the match. The start of the second session had Hibs continuing where they left off, making up an 8-0 run. Luxol finally could hit back, as Ahlberg sank a trey, but after that, they could only reply to their opponents' points, until another late surge had the Paolites pushing forward once more, with a 10-0 run, as Roderick Vella made his points, also with a triple. Nikola Vasovic netted a Luxol trey, but at the interval his side was still way behind, at 28-47.

After the break Kyle Meyer started with a Luxol trey, but Hibs began to take command again. A 9-2 run was followed by a brace of triples, from Chad Patus. Luxol dragged themselves a little back, with the Paolites enjoying a 66-45 advantage, going into the last quarter. The Violets began in earnest, nailing three treys in succession, with two from Vasovic and Ahlberg in between. A7-2 Hibs run had Marco Matijevic netting two hoops with Simon Attard sinking a triple. Keith Dimech put in a Luxol trey, but Hibs' answer was a 10-0 run, with Patus and Attard triples. Luxol ended the match with a flourish, as Ahlberg, Dimech and Vasovic added another trey each. with Hibs content with their garnered victory.

After the match the General Secretary of the MBA, Joseph Muscat, presented medals to the Poalite side, Luke Farrugia was awarded the MVP, and Marco Matijevic received the side's third honour of the season.

Luxol: CJ Cordina, M. Sjoberg, N. Vasovic 18, J. Melillo, JP Schembri, K. Dimech 11, W. Ahlberg 20, K. Meyer 13, A. Micallef Trigona, D. Schembri 8

Hibs: R. Vella 11, P. Attard , K. Sultana, L. Farrugia 17, S. Attard 6, I. Bonett, L. Tardito 4, A. Axiaq 11, M. Matijevic 8, A. Lizaur 8, F. Mariani, C. Patus 20

Referees: B. Vassallo, T. Manter, Z. Dobrosavljevic