Depiro 54 Caffe Moak Luxol 57
(16-15, 11-22, 10-12, 17-8)
After a failed attempt, in the Super Cup, the champions managed to bag their first honour of the season, taking the K.O., and ensuring that they will be involved in all the honours, next season. They beat off a determined Depiro challenge, which nearly came to fruition, at the end of the match, but they were denied by the final buzzer, as time was against their revival. Luxol took the match in hand, early on in the second period, and they were comfortably ahead, towards the end, but they faced a Depiro onslaught, and just about managed to keep their noses in front. This was their second denial to Depiro, after keeping them out of the Play Offs, in their last encounter. The champions had Monique Caruana back, after missing their last match, but Christine Grima sat out the whole final. It was Luxol's tenth success in this competition, as they defended the same honour, won last season.
Depiro began with a couple of hoops, and they held Luxol off for some time, as Maria brown began to put in her hoops for the champions. Brown was chosen as the game's MVP, after the match. Luxol were ahead, as skipper, Sarah Pace, sank a triple. Depiro regained their advantage, but Luxol came close again, with a late Cristina Sollami trey. In the second session Depiro extended their lead, but Luxol began to take command, and a long 14-2 run, with another Pace triple and more Brown hoops, established a Luxol advantage. Depiro reacted with a brace of hoops, but the last stages of the session had the champions with an 8-2 run, and more triples, from Sollami and Pace, for a better 37- 27 advantage.
After the break Depiro's first hoops found a Luxol answer each time, as Christine Curmi came to the fore, for the champions. Martina Scicluna sank a Depiro triple, but Luxol maintained their advantage, ending the session on a 49-37 lead. In the last period Depiro began to hit abck, making their baskets, but Luxol came up with a Caruana trey, and another Pace triple restored the champions' advantage. Depiro made a last-ditch effort, and Luxol's lead was whittled down, as their opponents made up a 9-0 run, and a Steffi DeMartino trey, which had them in contention. Luxol wisely went for possession, instead of at the basket, and played out the time, to capture the second major honour.
After the game the winning side were presented by medals, from the MBA general secretary, Joseph Muscat. Maria Brown received the match MVP, and skipper, Sarah Pace, was handed the K.O. trophy.
Depiro: M. Scicluna 5, T. Mifsud , M. Bonett 10, S. DeMartino 10, N. Agius 6, No. Agius, A. Lloyd 13, C. Ciantar 10
Luxol: S. Pace 14, M. Caruana 3, Ni. Vella, No. Vella, C. Grima, K. Portelli, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Brown 24, C. Sollami 6, M. Darmanin, C. Curmi 10
Referees: Z. Dobrosavljevic, C. Xuereb, K. Dworniczak
K.O. Winners Women
1977 Polytechnic Fiat 1991 Luxol Plasmon 2005 Hibs Go Mobile
1978 Cadettes Haig 1992 Selekta Paola Stars 2006 Hibs Medsea
1979 New University Fiat 1993 Selekta Paola Stars 2007 Hibs Medsea
1980 New University Fiat 1994 Selekta Hibs 2008 Depiro
1981 New University Fiat 1995 Pembroke Assitalia 2009 Hibs Medsea
1982 Athleta Fisher 1996 B'kara MFS 2010 Hibs Medsea
1983 Luxol Murisan 1997 Pembroke Assitalia 2011 McDonalds Depiro
1984 Fiat La Salle 1998 Hibernians 2012 Hibs Melita Gardens
1985 Luxol Murisann 1999 Naxxar Danone 2013 Luxol
1986 Luxol Imco 2000 Hibernians 2014 Caffe Moak Luxol
1987 Luxol Plasmon 2001 Hibs Go Mobile 2015 Honey Athleta
1988 Siggiewi 2002 Hibs Go Mobile 2016 Electrofix Hibs
1989 Luxol Mita 2003 Hibs Go Mobile 2017 Caffe Moak Luxol
1990 Siggiewi Mid Med 2004 Hibs Go Mobile 2018 Caffe Maok Luxol