Gzira Athleta     67     Starlites GIG     64

(11-11, 14-12, 21-13, 21-28)

The last game in the series had to provide the answers, as to the Play Offs semi-final line up, with the winners meeting Luxol and losers to face Hibs. The close, final score, came about after a Starlites mini revival, which had them reducing their deficit, with four late triples. Antoinette Borg remained on the bench, for Athleta, and Starlites had Lindsey Pirotta in lieu of Michela Riolo.

Starlites began with their triples, a couple from Patricia Arguello, but Athleta came slowly into the match, with a 7-0 run, and a Beverlee Zammit trey and Amelia Simmons hoops. to overturn the score. Michela Zammit Cordina free throws had both teams on level terms. In the second period it was Athleta forging ahead, with a good 11-2 run, and another Zammit trey. Starlites came slowly back, with hoops from Galea and Arguello, but they were still trailing till the interval, on a 23-25 score.

After the break Zammit Cordina had Starlites ahead, with Athleta reacting with 10-2 run, as Simmons and Leanne Duncan put in their points. They continued with their triples, from Duncan and Zammit, once more. Iranzu Drake, alternating with Arguello, made Starlites points, but her side started the last session 36-46 behind. Starlites' initial pressing, to reduce their deficit, failed, as Zammit's triple. made it one in each session, from Athleta. The latter side kept their adversaries at bay, till late in the match, with a comfortable advantage, but this was eaten away with Starlites' last surge, when Zammit Cordina, Galea and Arguello sank triples. Right at the very end Zammit Cordina netted a last second trey, for a closer score.

The two sides now prepare to face their opponents, in the Play Offs, in the coming days.

Athleta: N. Borg, B. Zammit 14, N. Hili, L. Duncan 17, A. Simmons 27, D. Said Hollier 5, J. Schembri, S. Vella 4, E. Pace, C. Mifsud

Starlites: M. Zammit Cordina 14, K. Galea 14, J. Doughty, S. Farrugia, H. Acreman 2, I. Drake 8, P. Arguello 17, M. Cutajar, S. Davis 6, A. Lupo 3

Referees: E. Mangani, C. Xuereb, Z. Dobrosavljevic

 

Depiro     65     Hibernians     56

(13-12, 18-14, 11-12, 23-18)

This was Depiro's swan song for this season, as they were already out of the Play Offs. They managed to inflict a defeat on the league leaders, which took them alongside another side, still to be defined, but with inferior direct encounters. The Paolites, already assured of their top placing, took the opportunity to hand their bench players more playing time. Depiro, with their American, Alexis Lloyd, back home, introduced their junior player, Celine Fenech, who also inserted herself in the scoring sheet. Hibs had Sam Brincat back, after a long injury layoff.  

It was Depiro with the opening lead, with Hibs going near, and then levelling the score, with a Silvia Gambino triple. The advantage then changed hands three times, before Depiro obtained a slim margin, before the end of the period. In the next session Maria Bonett sank a Depiro trey, as she ended a very positive season. Hibs overturned the score, with Julia Scerri hoops, but Steffi Demartino had Depiro again in front, with her trey. Iona Agius regained the Paolites' advantage, with Depiro putting in a late 8-0 run, ending with another Agius triple, to lead 31-26, at the interval.

After the break Depiro improved on their advantage, with more DeMartino points, but Hibs retaliated with a good 10-4 run, as Gambino and Brincat sank treys, to go within a hoop. Tina Mifsud free shots had Depiro leading 42-38. In the last quarter Hibs fell further behind, but Jasmine Abela went on court, to nail a brace of triples, and the Paolites were only a few points in arrears. Depiro made the issue safe, as Agius and Mifsud made triples, to open up a winning margin, and end their season with a win. Hibs had to wait until the last match, to know who their opponents were going to be, in the Play Offs.

Depiro: M. Scicluna 2, T. Mifsud 6, M. Bonett 21, S. DeMartino 13, N. Agius 8, No. Agius , M. Camilleri , C. Fenech 4, C. Ciantar 11  

Hibs: E. Micallef 2, E. Cassar , S. Gambino 8, S. Brincat 3, I. Agius 4, J. Abela 6, S. Abela 5, K. Caruana 4, N. Farrugia, R. Kehoe 14, M. Said 4, J. Scerri 6  

Referees: N. Azzopardi, M. Rajczi